Press releases
Northern Ireland: Amnesty calls for new investigation into murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan on 24th anniversary of killing
‘We need a fresh investigation into the killing – one that will end the impunity enjoyed for 24 years by Martin O’Hagan’s killers’ - Patrick Corrigan
Amnesty International urges publication of long-delayed Police Ombudsman investigation into the killing and fresh investigation of the murder
Police Ombudsman tells Amnesty that their investigation report is complete, but will not give timeframe for publication
The failure to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Martin O’Hagan has helped create an environment of impunity for those who continue to threaten journalists in Northern Ireland today, Amnesty International has said on the twenty-fourth anniversary of the killing of the reporter.
On September 28 2001, Sunday World journalist Martin O’Hagan was shot dead in Lurgan by members of a loyalist paramilitary group. No one has been held to account for his murder.
In September 2013, the Director of Public Prosecutions called in the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to investigate the police handling of the case.
The Police Ombudsman has confirmed to Amnesty International that their report is complete, but in correspondence with Amnesty this week, the Ombudsman’s office said they were still “not in a position to provide specific timeframes” for publication of their investigation.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said:
“The murder of Martin O’Hagan casts a long, dark shadow over press freedom in Northern Ireland.
“The public execution of Martin O’Hagan was designed to send a clear message to journalists in Northern Ireland that they are not safe.
“It is simply unacceptable that, in the 24 years since Martin O’Hagan was shot dead, no-one has been held accountable.
“This failure by the state has created an environment of impunity for those who continue to make deaths to journalists in Northern Ireland today.
Amnesty International UK
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2025
Northern Ireland: Amnesty calls for new investigation into murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan on 24th anniversary of killing
‘We need a fresh investigation into the killing – one that will end the impunity enjoyed for 24 years by Martin O’Hagan’s killers,’ - Patrick Corrigan
Amnesty International urges publication of long-delayed Police Ombudsman investigation into the killing and fresh investigation of the murder
Police Ombudsman tells Amnesty that their investigation report is complete, but will not give timeframe for publication
The failure to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Martin O’Hagan has helped create an environment of impunity for those who continue to threaten journalists in Northern Ireland today, Amnesty International has said on the twenty-fourth anniversary of the killing of the reporter.
On September 28 2001, Sunday World journalist Martin O’Hagan was shot dead in Lurgan by members of a loyalist paramilitary group. No one has been held to account for his murder.
In September 2013, the Director of Public Prosecutions called in the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to investigate the police handling of the case.
The Police Ombudsman has confirmed to Amnesty International that their report is complete, but in correspondence with Amnesty this week, the Ombudsman’s office said they were still “not in a position to provide specific timeframes” for publication of their investigation.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said:
“The murder of Martin O’Hagan casts a long, dark shadow over press freedom in Northern Ireland.
“The public execution of Martin O’Hagan was designed to send a clear message to journalists in Northern Ireland that they are not safe.
“It is simply unacceptable that, in the 24 years since Martin O’Hagan was shot dead, no-one has been held accountable.
“This failure by the state has created an environment of impunity for those who continue to make deaths to journalists in Northern Ireland today.
“It is now 12 years since the Police Ombudsman was called in to investigate the police handling of this case. We urge the Police Ombudsman to publish without further delay the report of their investigation.
“We need a fresh investigation into the killing itself – one that will end the impunity enjoyed for 24 years by Martin O’Hagan’s killers.”
A 100-page Amnesty International report published in June 2025, ‘Occupational Hazard? Threats and violence against journalists in Northern Ireland’, documented how journalists are still regularly subject to acts and threats of violence, including death threats.
There have been no prosecutions related to threats to journalists from paramilitaries, which make up the majority of such threats documented by Amnesty International.