Roman Shortall: Bridging Law and Investigative Journalism

If ever there was a more impactful example of law intersecting with journalism, it is demonstrated by Roman Shortall’s work. Roman, a solicitor and investigative journalist with The Ditch, together with his colleagues, exposed serious breaches by the Irish Planning Authority, An Bord Pleanála. Their efforts led to the resignation of the Chairperson and sparked several High Court cases, revealing controversial decisions made by the board regarding land planning and personal interests. This high-profile investigation not only raised the profile of The Ditch but also paved the way for further reports exposing state failures, including legal action over the use of Irish airspace for military flights transporting munitions to Israel.

In this timely episode of the Activist Lawyer podcast, host Sarah Henry sits down with Roman to discuss some of his most impactful work and how he blends his legal background with journalistic skills to advance his advocacy for Palestine and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The episode comes at a crucial moment, as the world observes the advancements of the Global Sumud Flotilla and associated humanitarian missions to Gaza. Sarah asks Roman why, as states, we have failed to protect civilians on such missions, and what this says about international accountability as a whole.

“There are a lot of factors in why we’ve basically thrown international law out the window… I think the idea of a ‘rules-based order’ for a lot of people is now a myth that has been exposed. It’s quite clear that international law as far as Western governments are concerned, does not apply to Israel.”

Roman also notes the contradictory stance of the Irish government, which expressed “concern” for those kidnapped by Israel, including Irish Senator Chris Andrews. If any of us believe in democracy, he, Senator Chris Andrews, should at the very least be named as a captive; “It’s part of the broader ‘free pass’ that Israel gets in relation to everything really.”

One reason for the lack of accountability for Israel as it commits war crimes, Roman argues, is the military-industrial complex. “A lot of states rely on Israeli-produced defence and military goods,” he explains, highlighting how this dependency perpetuates the lack of action on the global stage.

Turning to Ireland’s support for Palestine, Roman points out a glaring disconnect between the will of the Irish people and the actions of the Irish government. “I think it is fair to say that Ireland is probably the most pro-Palestinian country in Europe, but there is this incredible disconnect between what the people want and what the government is doing,” Roman says. He cites the failure to pass the Occupied Territories Bill, which has languished in the Dáil for over six years, as an example of this disconnect.

Gaza, he agrees with our host, is a “litmus test for humanity.” It’s a devastating moment in our history that reveals so much about humanity and our political structures. “I think a lot of people have been exposed and I can’t think of any better litmus test for humanity than asking someone if you are ok with children being shredded to pieces? Do you think there’s anything wrong with bombing residential buildings and seeing parents carrying their children’s bodies out of those buildings?” he asks. “It’s quite incredible that many, including those supposedly on the left, are saying that they don’t think Israel is doing anything wrong.”

Roman also draws attention to the continued flow of weapons from the US and UK to Israel, noting that these governments seem perfectly comfortable with their role in the ongoing conflict.

Roman and his colleagues have consistently reported on the use of Irish airspace to transport munitions to Israel, which led to a legal challenge in the Irish High Court. In this episode, Roman explains why it was crucial to initiate these proceedings and how they were able to gather evidence showing clear breaches of the law by the Irish government. As he puts it:

“The law has been broken and if you aspire to living in a society where the law applies equally to everyone, then you should get behind this case.”

To listen to the full episode and hear more of Roman’s insights, click here.

About Roman Shortall

Roman Shortall is a practising solicitor and co-founder of independent Irish news platform The Ditch. He won Newcomer of the Year at the Law Society of Ireland Justice Media Awards 2023 for his work exposing wrongdoing at Ireland's state planning body. For the past year, he has collaborated with investigative news outlets across the globe to uncover the flow of weapons to Israel.