STAR Wars director JJ Abrams has offered his support to two investigative journalists arrested over the alleged theft of documents linked to the Loughinisland massacre.
Belfast-based journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney were arrested in August by detectives from Durham Constabulary, supported by PSNI officers, as part of an investigation into the suspected theft of confidential papers from the Police Ombudsman's Office.
The pair were behind a high-profile documentary, No Stone Unturned, which examined the killing of six Catholic men at Loughinisland, Co Down, in June 1994.
The journalists are challenging the validity of search warrants used during the investigation.
They met a series of senior US politicians and film-makers including Mr Abrams during events in Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York over the last few days to raise awareness of the case.
Mr Birney said the Star Trek and Star Wars director had offered his support during a speech to a US-Ireland Alliance Event in Los Angeles.
"He actually singled me out at the start of his speech which was much appreciated," he said.
High-profile Irish and US actors including Chris O'Dowd, Glenn Close and Melissa McCarthy also attended the event.
Mr Birney said Democratic congressmen Richard Neal and Brendan Boyle have offered their backing to the case and discussed how the Friends of Ireland grouping on Capitol Hill could best raise the issue with the British Government.
The Reporters' Committee for the Freedom of the Press in Washington and the New York State Comptroller's office have also offered their support.
Mr Birney said he was "hugely impressed" by the committee's knowledge and understanding of the case.
"To have an international committee which supports press freedom to express concern and ask how they can help - it's hugely significant," he said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MLA Emma Rogan, whose father Adrian was killed in the loyalist gun attack, has asked to meet Durham Police Chief Constable Mike Barton about the decision to arrest the two journalists.
"They worked tirelessly over many years to bring the real truth of the Loughinisland massacre to the families and for that we are deeply indebted. Despite the appalling action of PSNI and Durham Constabulary, they still held in the highest regard by this community," she said.
"So the fact that you are leading an investigation that apparently led to their arrest can only be interpreted by us as an outrageous act of revenge on behalf of those who delayed and denied us the truth that Barry and Trevor and their colleagues provided to us through their film."
Ms Rogan invited Mr Barton to visit Loughinisland and speak to the victims' families.
