Recent Decisions and News

Remarks by Mr Peter Feeney, Press Ombudsman, at the launch of the 2017 Annual Report for The Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman in the Maldron Hotel, Pearse Street, Dublin 2

The Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman today launched their Annual Report for 2017. The Report highlighted that the Office of the Press Ombudsman received 330 complaints in 2017, up from 261 in the previous year. The complaints related to articles published in national and local newspapers, magazines and online-only news publications. 

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint made by Mr Scott Ryan that Independent.ie breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The International Press Institute  and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom  are launching a fund to support cross-border investigative journalism in the EU.

The Press Ombudsman has found that there is insufficient evidence available to him to make a decision on part of a complaint made by a couple that Independent.ie breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) and Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.    He has not upheld other parts of the complaint that Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment) and Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) of the Code of Practice were breached.

The Press Ombudsman has upheld part of a complaint that Village magazine breached the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.    The complaint was made under Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice.   Other parts of the complaint are not upheld.