UK: journalist vindicated in confidential source row

Posted by Dominique Lewis Tuohy on February 8, 2006 at 10:29 AM

Robin Ackroyd, the UK journalist who refused to reveal the identity of a confidential source (see previous posting), declared he felt vindicated after a judge ruled he had acted responsibly. The judge in question, Mr. Justice Tugendhat, ruled that Mr. Ackroyd is a "responsible journalist whose purpose was to act in the public interest." He also added that there is "a vital public interest" in protecting journalists' sources.

Ackroyd has been pursued for the past six years by Ashworth high security hospital to reveal the identity of the confidential source at the hospital who leaked him information concerning the hunger strike undertaken by one of the institution's prisoners. The information was then published in an article Mr. Ackroyd contributed to in The Daily Mirror.

Mr. Ackroyd has insisted throughout this time that the information he revealed was in the public interest. "This was and still is a matter of public interest not least because it has led to the longest running hunger strike in British penal history."

Ackroyd made the following statement about his experience: "The authorities' pursuit of me has been relentless and entirely unamusing. For more than six years this case has cast a shadow over my personal and professional life. ... In a way the result, although pleasing, is only part of the story. My endeavour to protect confidential sources and my refusal to name them has always been a constant. I stood my ground, remain resilient and still stand firm."

Source: Media Guardian

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