Sunday Independent journalists in the hunt for awards

THE Sunday Independent has been nominated for multiple awards in this year’s News-Brands Ireland Journalism Awards.

The Sunday Independent’s business section leads the way this year with Business Editor Samantha McCaughren nominated both as Business Journalist of the Year and for Business Story of the Year.

McCaughren’s exclusive story about An Post entering the mortgage market offering home loans impressed the judges in a what will be a tough category.

She will face competition from her colleague, Deputy Business Editor Fearghal O’Connor, who is also nominated in both sections for work that includes the exclusive investigation into the credit card spending of a number of senior Dublin Port Company executives.

Reigning Showbiz Journalist of the Year Barry Egan is once again up for the same award. Barry’s blend of A-list interviews and exclusive stories has been recognised yet again by his peers.

In the Features Broadsheet Writer of the Year category, award-winning writer Maeve Sheehan has been nominated for her in-depth and incisive coverage of the Mr Moonlight murder trial which saw Tipperary farmer Pat Quirke convicted of the brutal murder of his love rival Bobby Ryan.

The Sunday Independent’s Philip Ryan has also been nominated in the Political Journalist of the Year category for his excellent work this past year, including his interview with Finian McGrath in which the minister attacked “political policing”. Finally, columnist Declan Lynch’s work has been recognised with a nomination for the Broadsheet Columnist of the Year.

The awards ceremony, sponsored by the National Lottery, will take place in Dublin’s Mansion House on November 14.

Judging panel chairman Tim Vaughan said: “It’s no secret that journalism is under siege but you wouldn’t know it from this year’s entries. They were simply outstanding across the board.”