Journalists Condemn Republican Gun Attack

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the shooting - by armed republicans - of a Press Association photographer in Belfast last night.

NUJ member Niall Carson was shot in the leg while covering the sectarian riots in east Belfast. The PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay described the shooting as "an act with murderous intent".

He said that dissident republicans were responsible for firing the gunshots, one of which injured the press photographer, during a second night of sectarian rioting in east Belfast, police have confirmed.

A full investigation has been launched into whether journalists were the intended target of the gun attack.

NUJ Irish Secretary, Séamus Dooley said the shooting represents an attack on the media in Northern Ireland and was "an extremely worrying development".

"Niall Carson was injured while doing his job. It is vital that journalists should be allowed to carry out their duties without fear of attack from any quarter.

"This incident is part of a sinister assault on the people of Northern Ireland. The riots of the past two days represent a wider attack on the community, who have a right to live in peace.

"Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered as a result of the riots over the past 48 hoursm" he said, this morning.

Meanwhile, NUJ General Secretary-elect, Michelle Stanistreet extended the good wishes of his colleagues across the union to Niall Carson. "This shooting is a sharp reminder of the dangers faced by media workers in conflict situations.

"Journalists and their employers must be mindful of the safety implications of covering conflict situations, while there is also a responsibility on the police to ensure that the media are allowed to carry out their duties in the public interest," she said.

NUJ National Executive Council Member, Bob Miller also condemned the attack, and said journalists throughout Northern Ireland were shocked by the shooting of a colleague.

The press photographer, who works for a local news agency, is understood to be in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after he was shot overnight in rioting in east Belfast.

The Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey has also now said that the people who would bring guns onto the streets of Belfast have no support and the use of weapons by the elements responsible for shootings will not make the community safer.

"Those who were responsible for the firing of shots need to realise that they have nothing to offer and will not in anyway aid the search for a solution to the problems being faced by this community.

"The community does not want anyone carrying out these actions in their name, they do not support these type of attacks and they want whoever is responsible to stop immediately.

"The absolute priority for the people of this area is that there is calm restored and they can get on with their lives peacefully," he said.

See: Paterson Condemns East Belfast Riots

(BMcC)