Gemma O'Doherty

Gemma O'Doherty

O'Doherty in 2014
Nationality Irish
Occupation Journalist

Gemma O'Doherty is an award-winning Irish investigative journalist, blacklisted by the Irish mainstream media establishment[1][2] and considered a "rogue reporter" by her former employer Independent News & Media, though she retains the backing of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).[3]

O'Doherty was Senior Features writer at the Irish Independent for 16 years until her boss Stephen Rae, a former editor of the Garda Review, sacked her for attempting to interview Martin Callinan, then head of the Garda Síochána (the national police force), about his involvement in a nationwide penalty points cancellation scandal.[4][5][6] Her experience led to allegations of a cover-up at the heart of the Irish establishment.[7]

Career

O'Doherty is recognised for her involvement in the investigation into the 1985 death of Father Niall Molloy. According to O'Doherty, his murder "exposed a cover up of staggering proportions and glaring inconsistences [sic] which point to nothing less than a cover-up of staggering proportions, involving several institutions of the State and the Catholic Church".[8]

While investigating a nationwide penalty points cancellation scandal, O'Doherty sought to question Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan over whether he had ever had penalty points cancelled himself. This action was condemned by her employer and cost O'Doherty her job. Apart from a mention in satirical magazine The Phoenix,[3] O'Doherty's sacking was largely ignored by the Irish mainstream media. It was, however, raised in the underground Irish media, and a blog report brought it to the attention of international media. Among those to condemn the sacking were O'Doherty's colleagues in the Toronto Star, Daily Mail and The Guardian.[8] In Ireland, Senator John Gilroy attempted to raise the matter in the Seanad, saying "This case has been reported extensively in international media and social media but it does not seem to have generated any traction in our domestic media. When any journalist is sacked it is noteworthy, but when an investigative journalist of Ms O'Doherty's standing is sacked this must raise great concerns for all democrats".[8] Dáil deputies Joe Higgins and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn also raised the matter.[7]

It later emerged that O'Doherty's former boss Stephen Rae was among those to have had penalty points annulled. This was in turn ignored by the Irish media and only reported either on social media or internationally.[9][10] Callinan's resignation as Garda Commissioner in March 2014 over remarks that whistleblowers were "disgusting" prompted Professor of Journalism and media commentator Roy Greenslade to deem O'Doherty "vindicated".[11]

In December 2014, the Independent admitted they were wrong to dismiss O'Doherty, and paid her damages to settle a case brought by her to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.[12]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/07/08/are-you-a-journalist/
  2. ↑ http://uccmotley.ie/index.php/following-his-recent-appearance-in-ucc-motleys-deputy-editor-eoin-mcsweeney-spoke-to-garda-whistleblower-john-wilson-about-the-scandal-that-cost-the-irish-government-millions/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Controversy over firing of leading Irish investigative journalist". The Guardian. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.thejournal.ie/nuj-gemma-odoherty-1088590-Sep2013/
  5. ↑ http://transparency.ie/news_events/firing-gemma-o%E2%80%99doherty-may-serve-silence-investigative-journalists-ireland
  6. ↑ https://soundmigration.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/stephen-raes-penalty-points-and-the-silence-of-irish-media/
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mulhern, Robert (11 October 2013). "The story 'the Irish media don't want you to read'". Irish Post. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "British media reacts strongly as leading Irish journalist Gemma O'Doherty forced out of job". Irish Post. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Mulhern, Robert (28 September 2013). "Wiped penalty points linked to editor involved in Gemma O'Doherty redundancy". Irish Post. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Ireland's media ignore Irish Independent editor's annulled penalty points". 3 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Greenslade, Roy (25 March 2014). "Irish police chief's resignation vindicates sacked investigative journalist". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Journalist Gemma O’Doherty settles unfair dismissals case against ‘Independent’". Irish Times. 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2014-12-22.
  13. ↑ http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/scoops-expert-reporting-win-awards-26103211.html
  14. ↑ http://www.gsk.ie/media_contact/press_releases/irish_medical_times_scoops_top_prize.html
  15. ↑ http://nni.ie/journalism-awards/shortlists/shortlist-nni-journalism-awards-2012/
  16. ↑ http://nni.ie/nni-national-journalist-of-the-year-award-goes-to-irish-independent-team/
  17. ↑ http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/travel-writer-walks-away-with-top-prize-26723959.html

External links