Editorial: Proud history championing journalistic excellence in Waterford

The Waterford News & Star has a long and proud history of championing high-quality journalism, and it was particularly heartening at the Local Ireland Media Awards last week that one of the hard-working members of our journalism team was recognised for his outstanding reporting work in Waterford.

Darragh Murphy was awarded two of the top accolades, 'Young Journalist of the Year' and 'Best News Story', at the regional newspaper industry's gala event, held in the Mullingar Park Hotel.

With over 700 entries across various categories, coming out top among his peers was no mean feat for the young journalist who hails from Waterford's Clonea-Power.

The piece of work that landed Darragh the awards was his exceptional research and diligent reporting on a scandal that unfolded last year involving Déise Animal Sanctuary.

His article, titled ‘Have you donated to the house of horrors?’, exposed a fundraising campaign that led to over €10,000 being crowdfunded in support of a woman behind what Clonmel District Court judge Brian O’Shea described as a ‘House of Horrors’.

Darragh’s story detailed the neglect and abuse of animals at Déise Animal Sanctuary in Ballymacarbry, Co. Waterford. 

Owner of the sanctuary, Pat Edwards, made national news headlines last year following her guilty plea and eight-month prison sentence for extensive animal neglect, which took place at the local sanctuary. In the direct aftermath of this court hearing, a GoFundMe page was organised, where over €10,000 was raised in support of Pat Edwards and the sanctuary. Ms Edwards later appealed the severity of her custodial sentence.

At the appeal hearing, the sentence was suspended for one year on condition that Ms Edwards not have possession or control of any animals save for one pet dog, and that the animal sanctuary cease operations. The sanctuary has since closed.

Darragh's story featured exclusive insight from various parties, including ISPCA Inspectors and former proprietors of Déise Animal Sanctuary, including Pat Edwards herself. It drew together the court case and the fundraising drive - which many people were donating to, oblivious to the ISPCA's serious concerns and the resultant court case. It included personal testimonies of all sides of the story, making it truly balanced and fair in its reportage. It also included images, which showed the scale of neglect present at Déise Animal Sanctuary.

Darragh's article highlighted how GoFundMe fundraisers - which are appearing online with increasing commonality - can, inadvertently or otherwise, withhold key information and potentially mislead donors.

In today's world of constant 'news', and in an increasingly unregulated online world, where the traditional media is often maligned, it is important to recognise and celebrate the conscientious work of our journalists, both national and regional.

Local Ireland, which champions Ireland's regional newspapers, brought together an exemplary panel of judges to choose this year's winners, ensuring a high-calibre awards event.

It is in our society's interest that a robust media stands firmly against a growing tide of misinformation - and those who attempt to undermine the genuine seekers of truth, and indeed the truth itself.

The Waterford News & Star has won many awards over the years for just that - high-quality journalism that holds power to account, that champions our democratic processes, and that rigorously works to uncover, each time, the full and complete story in the public's interest.

These stories are often difficult to probe and to tell. We applaud journalists like Darragh Murphy who carry this baton forward, and we are proud that he is one of our own.