Donegal journalists shortlisted for Justice Media Awards

Donegal journalists feature in the shortlist for the Law Society of Ireland’s Justice Media Awards 2025, including Donegal Democrat/ DonegalLive’s own Chris McNulty.

The St Johnston native is shortlisted in the Print/Online Journalism (local) category.  His court reports, which focused on the length of time for court trials in Ireland, are shortlisted under ‘The time to justice’.

The entry summary for ‘The time to justice’ reads: “Trials at local District and Circuit court levels in Ireland can be lengthy and testing for complainants, accused and indeed officers of the court. The importance of local media covering such cases must continue to be valued. However, their nature and length often mean they are not reported on.

“The cases herein provide an insight into the lengthy, complex matters that often appear at the Circuit Court level in Ireland.

“These include a case against a mother lasting 10 days at the second hearing of the matter when she was charged with 19 sex offences against her daughter; a case of sexual assault that took decades to arrive before the court; two cases of alleged defilement that were before the Circuit Court in quick succession; and a gun licence application from a local barrister that took 15 hours - and well into two evenings - to hear at District Court level.”

Mark Tighe from Donegal Town is shortlisted in four categories. He was educated at St Bridget’s in Convoy and then Royal and Prior Raphoe. He went on to complete an MA in Journalism at the University of Galway in 2006.

He is shortlisted in the Print/ Online Journalism (feature) for his contribution to ‘Field of Broken Dreams’ with Marie Crowe in the Sunday Independent. The feature investigated the treatment of Irish women footballers.

Girls in Green for RTÉ Investigates, a joint investigation with Field of Dreams, received a nomination in Human Rights/ Social Justice Reporting (broadcast). Tighe was recognised for his contribution, along with Frank Shouldice and Marie Crowe.

He is also shortlisted in the Broadcast Journalism (podcast) category for Nikita Hand wins David and Goliath case against Conor McGregor with Joe Molloy for Indo Sport. Court Reporting (print/online) Tighe is shortlisted for ‘How one woman took on the world’s most “notorious” fighter and triumphed’, also about Nikita Hand’s civil rape case against Conor McGregor, in the Sunday Independent.

Broadcast journalist Andrea Gilligan from Ballyshannon is nominated in the Broadcast Journalism (radio - national). Andrea is a former University of Galway alumni as she completed the MA in Journalism in 2008. She is shortlisted alongside Dee King, Caoimhe Harney and Ross Leahy for ‘Do jurors need counselling supports?’ broadcast on Lunchtime Live, the show Andrea anchors on Newstalk.

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Dionne Meehan of Donegal News is shortlisted in the Newcomer of the Year category.