A Co Mayo journalism student has won the inaugural ‘Vincent Doyle Award for Investigative Journalism’, which will be presented today (Wednesday, April 25) at the University of Limerick.

Craig Hughes, from Ballyhaunis Co Mayo, won the Award for an investigation into how coroners are recording suicide verdicts throughout the country. He uncovered evidence that suicide verdicts are being under-recorded by a reluctance of some coroners to return such verdicts. The story was originally published in the Sunday Independent.

The inaugural ‘Vincent Doyle Award for Investigative Journalism’ has been inaugurated to honour the memory of the late Irish Independent editor Vinny Doyle. It recognises a young journalism graduate who has achieved excellence in the field of investigative journalism.

The winner was announced by Eddie Cunningham Deputy Editor, Irish Independent, at a special ceremony at the University of Limerick, and was presented by the late editor’s wife, Gertie.

The University of Limerick launched it prestigious BA in Journalism and New Media in 2008 and this year will see the first students graduate from the degree.

A second UL student, Aisling Hussey, from Ballyheigue in Co Kerry was runner up. Aisling had been shortlisted for the award for an investigation into health services in Co Kerry. She previously worked with the Kerryman newspaper.

In a statement An Taoiseach Enda Kenny sent his congratulations to the winner. Mr Kenny said the Award was presented for “excellence in the field”. “This is a really wonderful achievement and I anticipate that it will mark the beginning of a very successful career,” he added.

Prof Tom Lodge, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science at the University of Limerick said the University was “thrilled and delighted” to be hosting the inaugural award.
“We are delighted to be in a position to honour the memory of such an esteemed editor as Vinny Doyle. Craig has demonstrated a commitment to asking the tough questions in the public interest and has produced stories of an excellent standard,” he said.

Head of Journalism Section Tom Felle said: “Vinny was a true newspaper man, an editor who had ink in his veins. He excelled at delivering the ‘scoop’ and indeed some of the most important and significant news stories of the last 20 years were exclusives broken by the Indo. It is particularly poignant that today’s Award honours excellence in the field of investigative journalism, a trait that Vinny valued highly.”

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/some-coroners-underreport-cases-of-suicide-3067697.html