Tributes paid to murdered journalist

Politicians, colleagues and friends have today been paying tribute to Mr Martin O'Hagan, the murdered Sunday Worldjournalist who was gunned down in front of his wife in Lurgan, Co Armagh last night.

The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, said it was "senseless and brutal", while the Tánaiste Ms Harney, condemned the killing as "shocking and depraved".

"Those responsible for this barbarous act have no place in the new society all right-thinking people are trying to build," Mr Ahern said. "They have deprived a family of a husband and a father for no other reason than to satisfy their craven thirst for violence."

As a fearless journalist ... an attack on someone of his stature is an attack on the freedom of speech and freedom of the press Mr Jim McDowell, the Sunday WorldNorthern Ireland editor

In New York, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen said he had been shocked to hear of the " deeply shocking and cynical act".

"Those who have carried out this heinous act have absolutely nothing to offer the people of Northern Ireland except fear and silence", he said.

The Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble, MP for the area, condemned the murder as "cowardly", and said he was appalled by this latest shooting.

"Tragically, Lurgan has witnessed yet another murder and I would call upon the wider community to assist the RUC in any way possible as they seek to bring to justice the perpetrators of this act."

Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid echoed Mr Trimble’s comments, saying he was appalled by the "barbaric killing."

"It shows contempt for human life, contempt for freedom of the press and contempt for the people of Northern Ireland. I have spoken to the Chief Constable and I share his absolute determination to track down the cowards responsible for this act of savagery."

Acting First Minister Sir Reg Empey and the acting Deputy First Minister Mr Seamus Mallon said it was "an attack on democracy itself".

"Mr O'Hagan's murder must be condemned. Those who carried it out must be reviled."

"The right of a free press to operate without fear of violent assault or intimidation is a basic principle in any democratic society," they said in a joint statement.

The Northern Ireland editor of the Dublin-based Sunday World, Mr Jim McDowell, said he was "devastated" by the murder.

"He was a journalist who never stood back in his life," Mr McDowell said. "If there are issues to be addressed, then he did it.

"I was not aware he was under any threat at this time. He never talked about that.

"But, obviously, as a fearless journalist and a secretary of the NUJ in Belfast, an attack on someone of his stature is an attack on the freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

"This newspaper has suffered many threats in the past and everyone is shattered."

Sunday Worldeditor Mr Colm MacGinty today travelled from Dublin to visit Mr O'Hagan's family and to put together a special memorial edition.

"Martin was fearless in carrying out his duties and never ever shirked from a challenge, despite the fact that he had been threatened before. He was shot in the back and died in search of the truth. With him died a certain element of that truth," said Mr MacGinty.

The President of the NUJ, Mr Rory McLeod, desribed the murder as "an appalling and sickening attack on a reporter who throughout his career campaigned against the twin evils of sectarianism and terrorism."

Ms Mary Maher, chairperson of the Irish Executive of the NUJ, said Mr O'Hagan was "a journalist of singular courage in an environment which demands our members to expose themselves to danger on a daily basis from those who reject democracy."

Mr John Jefferies of the Workers’ Party paid tribute to his friend, describing him as a true professional and committed trade unionist who was widely respected and popular. The shooting was a "callous act of cowardice", he said.

• Statement from the Sunday World
• Statement from the Irish Executive of the NUJ
• Statement from the President of the NUJ