Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Garda whistleblowers Sergeant Maurice McCabe Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Whistleblowers have been vital in undercovering secrets in Ireland, says Observer editor

John Mulholland, the Dublin-born editor of the Observer, said that the Edward Snowden story had opened people’s eyes to issues around journalistic security.

THE GREAT THING about whistleblowers now is they have more access to information than ever, according to the editor of The Observer John Mulholland.

The Dublin-born editor believes the role of the whistleblower within Irish society has been vital in uncovering the “misbehavior” of institutions such as the Catholic church.

“Look at the Catholic church: should whistleblowers over the last 20, 30 years not have come forward and given their story of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests?

“Well of course there were people in Ireland who wish they hadn’t, who had a loyalty to the Catholic church, but there is no rational reason for you to believe that they shouldn’t have came forward and told their stories.

“So leaving aside the initial immediate reaction, I think just ask yourself is this valuable information the public ought to know and if it is get it out there.”

Snowden revelations

The British Sunday paper’s sister publication, The Guardian, was the first to break leaked NSA surveillance files from whistleblower Edward Snowden in the US last year.

Mulholland described the story as “something of an evangelist for an open society.”

I think if a whistleblower comes to you with data the only question you really have to ask is, is this information in the public interest to be released. And I think it’s fairly easy to make that descion. If someone is coming to you with stuff that’s got some kind of personal agenda or even business agenda you will probably make the appropriate decision.

“But if you look at the material that’s brought to you I think it’s very easy to sit down and say, is there stuff here that the public don’t know that the public ought to know?”

Surveillance

Speaking at an alumni talk in Dublin City University where he is himself a past student, Mulholland also warned that newspapers have had to “open their eyes” in order to protect their journalists and sources from the surveillance industries.

He revealed that the Guardian had to insure “a robust level of security” to protect those involved during the Edward Snowden saga.

Mulholland explained:

“I think what it has done is it has opened people’s eyes to issues around journalistic security, and I mean by that security of sources and the security of material.

The Guardian tried to put in place extremely robust forms of security so that the story wasn’t going to be accessed by anyone else before it was published, but I think that they would even concede that the measures they took at least in the initial stages were maybe fairly basic in terms of what they then learned they needed to be doing.

“So clearly a story about surveillance of this nature is going to attract the surveillance industries.”

Read: Leo Varadkar is ‘concerned’ that the gardaí allegedly wanted to destroy tapes > 

Column: Pride, arrogance and the impotence of political leadership in GardaGate > 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
6 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jules Lucas
    Favourite Jules Lucas
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 12:48 PM

    The impact of this scandal has done wonders for the local village butcher, which we are better off buying our meat from anyway in my opinion!

    123
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christmas Carroll
    Favourite Christmas Carroll
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Completely agree! Never mind the fact that at least you know what you’re getting is the real deal, it’s much healthier and tastes a hell of a lot better… Makes the extra money spent worth it!

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Figo murphy
    Favourite Figo murphy
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 1:01 PM

    I agree. My local butcher is flying. He just bought a new car, he got rid of that old horse he used to go around on.

    111
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christmas Carroll
    Favourite Christmas Carroll
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 1:03 PM

    Dammit Figo :-P

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dodge Challenger
    Favourite Dodge Challenger
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Will this horse meat issue ever go away? It’s not that much of a big deal. Not to ruin any appetites but could you imagine the amount of little insects and other creatures that get minced in with the meat supply that we never know about.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute susanna smyth
    Favourite susanna smyth
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Burgers are tested for horse meat only. What other nasty could be in there disguised as beef ?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bo11ocks_to_this
    Favourite Bo11ocks_to_this
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Did anyone else see the article from SA about water buffalo, horse and others found in beef. I’ll try find a link

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcgoo
    Favourite mcgoo
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 1:15 PM

    A bit ironic that “Kanter” did the study eh?

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute pat aherne
    Favourite pat aherne
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 1:21 PM

    When we were starting our then 18 month on meat (2years ago) my wife decided to get supermarket burgers just in case he did not like them – well to tell you the truth he pretty much threw the burger back at her. I said why not try butcher meat it will taste alot better and healthier for the child. She got a 1/4 pounder and he ate 2/3 of it. Hence even an 18 month old knew the taste of quality !!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute clareo79
    Favourite clareo79
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 2:07 PM

    You gave an 18 month old a burger?!

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mister
    Favourite mister
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 12:51 PM

    Interesting article. If I’m reading those stats correctly, does this indicate that ordinary local butchers have not experienced a bounce in trade? And if not, I wonder why?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hippocrateeth
    Favourite Hippocrateeth
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 12:57 PM

    In other news, the number of horses commuting on the Dart has risen by over 800% in the past week. Community watch locals report a growing number of incidences involving horses some described as having ‘brazen attitudes’ and ‘brass balls’ towards concerned travellers waiting on the platforms for their respective trains. In a more striking example of the intimidation by the footloose horses, a 6-pack box of Silverdale frozen burgers was kicked at an elderly man’s head causing the man to curse loudly at the ebullient edible equine. The man was later taken for questioning. A file has been sent to the office of the DPP and a request for legal aid has been sought.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Kavanagh
    Favourite Dave Kavanagh
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 1:18 PM

    Great the media is loving this story and in doing so are systematically destroying one of Irelands core industries. Dont get me wrong I am totally for a free press but some of the sensationalism printed about this scandle (storm in a teacup) in relation to its connection with Ireland has been pure speculation and even when facts where established the Irish connection was still bigged up. Journal well done on being responsible and accurate if only other media would follow your example.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry McSweeney
    Favourite Barry McSweeney
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 3:22 PM

    If anyone is destroying one of Ireland’s core industries it is those who sold contaminated meat, the officials who refuse to admit that traceability “from farm to fork” is a lie, and the businessmen who refuse to speak publicly about what happened in their factories.
    Burying your head in the sand and “pulling on the green jersey” as you advocate will never work.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
    Favourite АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 5:47 PM

    Completely agree with you on this one, Dave!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sid
    Favourite sid
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 1:07 PM

    @ dodge

    I figure its a very big deal , nobody has any idea where what horses were used, could have used anything to bolster up the weight

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
    Favourite АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
    Report
    Mar 4th 2013, 5:21 PM

    “FSAI” IS STILL WORKING ON CONTAMINATED MEAT PRODUCTS ???, WHILE THERE IS POISONOUS MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS RAPIDLY SPREAD ACROSS IRELAND! Disgrace!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds