Belfast Telegraph crime reporter Alison Morris and Irish Examiner political correspondent, Aoife Grace Moore have initiated legal action against the former Sunday Independent columnist and ex-senator, Eoghan Harris. The journalist filed for legal action after Mr. Harris revealed himself as one of the operators behind running an anonymous abusive account, “Barbara Pym”. Eoghan admitted last week that he was contributing to the anonymous account which was found to be posting strident and abusive content about the two women journalists. Twitter has suspended the “Barbara Pym” account permanently as well as nine other accounts with linkage to it. Phoenix Law, a law firm based in Belfast is proceeding the legal action on behalf of Aoife Grace Moore and Allison Morris. CFWIJ offers support to both women journalists and stands in solidarity with them. We believe no journalist should ever be subjected to online harassment and threats. Our online spaces need to be safer and free of toxicity. We hope that the legal action would set a precedent against those keyboard warriors who hide behind anonymity.

Award-winning journalist, Allison Morris, a security correspondent and columnist for The Irish News was targeted with death threats. A graffiti targeting Allison as an MI5 agent along with a crosshair was drawn in North Belfast on Thursday. Allison has received threats from paramilitary forces in the past as well. CFWIJ is alarmed by this pattern of threatening graffiti in Northern Ireland. We urge law enforcement forces in Northern Ireland to investigate this series of threats and apprehend the criminals behind it.