1232/2022 - Mr Declan Leydon and The Irish Times

Mr Leydon appealed the decision of the Press Ombudsman to the Press Council of Ireland on the grounds (a) that the procedures followed in making the decision were not in accordance with the published procedures for submitting and considering complaints and (b) that there had been an error in the Press Ombudsman’s application of the Principles of the Code of Practice.

The Press Council considered the appeal at its meeting on Friday, 8 July 2022 and decided to reject the appeal on both grounds cited by the complainant.

The Press Council rejected the appeal that the procedures followed in making the decision were not in accordance with the published procedures for submitting and considering complaints. It decided that the Press Ombudsman had considered all relevant factors in relation to the complaint and that he had addressed all the salient points in his decision.

The Council also rejected the appeal that there was an error in the Press Ombudsman’s application of the Code of Practice.  It decided that the complainant had not demonstrated that the Ombudsman had erred in his application of Principle 4 or Principle 8 of the Code.    The Council agreed with the Press Ombudsman’s conclusion that the article did not undermine the reputation of those who choose not to be vaccinated and did not cause grave offence or stir up hatred and noted that in any event the unvaccinated are not among the groups referred to in Principle 8 of the Code.

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