ENNIS JOURNALIST, Brian O’Connell took one of the top honours at the Law Society of Ireland Justice Media Awards.
Brian, a reporter with RTÉ Radio One took the top prize in the national broadcast category at the Law Society of Ireland Justice Media Awards.
He was honoured for his work which focused on the inner workings of the drug treatment court and was aired on RTÉ Radio One’s Today show which is now fronted by David McCullagh.
Access by the Irish Courts Service was acknowledged by Brian in allowing them to make the report. “It was great to connect with so many colleagues from across print, online and broadcast and a big thanks as always to the great production team behind our show,” he said.
Judges said of O’Connell’s work, “This journalist brought focus to a programme that doesn’t get much attention elsewhere. Delivered in an accessible, educational style, it provided insights into the courts, the procedures, and the law, all while keeping people front and centre”.
Four years ago, Brian won gold at the IMRO Radio Awards for highlighting the delays experienced by then ten year old Adam Terry and his family to get vital surgery for scoliosis.
A reporter with RTÉ Radio One since 2013, Brian has worked on Today with Pat Kenny, Today with Sean O’Rourke, Today with Claire Byrne and now Today with David McCullagh as well as filing reports for Drivetime.
O’Connell has lived in Cork for the last thirty two years. In 2019, he released his first book, ‘The Personals’.
Feakle based Bernie English won the top award in the print and online journalism category for local media. A reporter with The Limerick Post, Bernie’s story, New laws on what happens when your name ends up in the paper for the wrong reasons: Stop thief: The words no shopkeeper can say: ‘I just want the record set straight’ saw her scoop the accolade.
Judges said of Bernie’s work, “This was an interesting report, which comprised thorough detail and a clear explanation of defamation laws. The injection of humour was attention grabbing – it was journalism worthy of national standard”.
For the past thirty years, Bernie has been working in local and national media. She worked as a staff journalist with the Irish Press and Evening Press before moving to Clare. She has worked as a freelance for all of the national newspaper titles and a staff journalist in Limerick, helping to launch the Limerick edition of The Evening Echo. Bernie was involved in the launch of The Clare People where she was responsible for business and industry news and is currently part of the team with The Limerick Post.
