Recent Decisions and News

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint by Mr Brian O’Donnell and his family that the Irish Independent breached Principle l0 (Publication of Decisions) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has upheld a complaint made by Mr Brian O’Donnell and his family that the Irish Independent, in its print and online editions, breached Principle 5 (Privacy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.   The decision was affirmed by the Press Council on appeal.

The Headline organisation undertakes media monitoring to ensure that mental health and suicide issues are reported in a responsible manner. At a seminar on 12 July 2017 they issued the following advice to journalists:

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint made by the Corofin Castle Heritage Park that the Connacht Tribune breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) and Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

Defamation laws are there to protect citizens whose reputations are damaged by newspapers and broadcasters.  They are an important part of the vindication of the rights of citizens to ensure that their reputations are not tarnished by inaccurate reporting.  But there is a balance to be maintained between the rights to protect a reputation and the rights of freedom of expression. 

The recent publication on the Facebook page of KildareNow (an online-only news service for County Kildare) of an image of a man falsely accused of being a threat to children has received extensive coverage in the media.  

There is a major anomaly, in Ireland as elsewhere, in the way in which organisations which provide news are treated. Newspapers and magazines and some online-only news publications are subject to a Code of Practice which is implemented by the Press Council, a body independent of Government and the press.

2016 Annual Report can be found here : 

Launch of the 2016 Annual Report of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman  -  Remarks of Chairman, Seán Donlon  

Launch of 2016 Annual Report of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman - Remarks of Press Ombudsman Peter Feeney