Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to be able to speak on these timely statements on the situation regarding brave journalists. The death of nine journalists and media workers in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion underscores for us all the level of danger to which those covering conflict are exposed. Today we remember Irish cameraman, Pierre Zakrzewski, who was killed in Ukraine when his vehicle was hit by Russian shelling on 14 March. He was working for the US network, Fox News, in Horenka. Mr. Zakrzewski was a brave veteran warzone photographer who had covered multiple conflicts, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Unfortunately the killing of journalists is not limited to conflict situations. Furthermore the recent shooting of the reporter in the West Bank is among the numerous killings of media workers worldwide. Last year, 2021, a large number, I think it was 40 journalists, were killed under attack. It is just unbelievable. We have to protect and salute those brave journalists who go out to work.

I remember as a young person I listened to the brave Robert Fisk reporting from Beirut. Little did I think years later I would be visiting him. He was the first person who I remember reporting from war zones. It is important to remember that as well as in war zones, there are issues in this country that have not been reported on and are not allowed to be reported on. There were 51 lives lost in Whiddy Island, Bantry, in 1979 and we have not had any proper inquiries. That was whitewashed. We lost two young men off Helvick Head 15 years ago this week, John O’Brien and his friend Pat Esmonde, and we have failed to get a proper investigation. None of the board members of our Marine Casualty Investigation Board has seagoing experience. I am not trying to diminish anything that is happening with the Russian war in Ukraine, or any other war zone, but we have to wash all our dirty linen, including our own. It is our duty to expose what is happening. There are many other situations in this country that have not had proper investigations. The case of Fr. Niall Molloy in County Offaly had one cover-up after another. It is not all confined to war zones.

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