The PSNI has gone to the court in Belfast in a bid to force a journalist to surrender information about contacts she had with the Real IRA.
Suzanne Breen, Sunday Tribunenorthern editor, has been asked to give up phones, computers, discs, notes and other material linked to two articles on the dissident republican paramilitary organisation.
Officers gave her seven days to comply after visiting her Belfast home last week, but the reporter has refused to co-operate, insisting she will protect her sources.
Police today began proceedings in Belfast Crown Court seeking an order compelling the journalist to hand over the materials.
They want details about the Real IRA’s claim of responsibility for the murder of two soldiers at Massereene army barracks, Antrim, in March and an interview with a senior Real IRA representative in which the group admitted killing Provisional IRA informer Denis Donaldson and threatened to murder more soldiers and police.
Ms Breen said: “It is not the job of journalists to be detectives. We will be upholding the journalistic code of ethics, which includes the protecting of sources.”
The executive council of the National Union of Journalists today passed a statement of support for the journalist and pledged to give "all practicable support" to Ms Breen in her case.
NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said: "This case is deeply worrying both because of the sweeping nature of the order being sought and way in which the case is being approached by the police. We are particularly concerned that the Police Service of Northern Ireland has sought for the entire case to be held behind closed doors and that they have made an application for a preliminary in camera hearing in the absence of Suzanne Breen's legal team."
The NUJ said it had "a long-standing policy of supporting its members when defending their rights to maintain the confidentiality of source material". It said if the police and security services were able to access confidential journalistic material, "the future of investigative journalism would be put at risk".
The motion passed by the national executive committee applauded the stand taken by Suzanne Breen in resisting legal attempts to reveal journalistic sources. It also noted support from the Sunday Tribuneand said it "fully expects management to continue their fight to defend both her and press freedom".
"NEC reaffirms its belief that journalists and journalism should not be used as extensions of the state."
The case is expected to resume on Tuesday.
Additional reporting: PA
