A journalism student from Ballina was awarded the Veronica Guerin Memorial Scholarship at Dublin City University yesterday.

25-year old Deborah Naylor received the scholarship, which is sponsored by Independent News & Media, to undertake her Masters studies in journalism at DCU.

Bernie Guerin, mother of murdered investigative journalist Veronica Guerin, presented the scholarship to Deborah yesterday, and said she now felt “more than ever” it was an important time for investigative journalists, especially in the wake of attacks on reporters in the Syrian city of Homs and the killing of Sunday Times veteran war correspondent Marie Colvin last week.

Ballina student Deborah Naylor, who spent some time on work experience with Midwest News last year, plans to make a radio documentary on parents who have lost children to suicide.