532/2020 - A Woman and the Waterford News & Star

Both the complainant and the editor of the Waterford News & Star appealed the decision of the Press Ombudsman to the Press Council of Ireland on the grounds that there had been an error in the Press Ombudsman’s application of the Code of Practice.

 The Press Council considered both appeals at its meeting on 4 December 2020.  It noted that Principle 5.3 of the Code of Practice states that while the feelings of grieving families should be taken into account in publishing information in situations of personal grief or shock, this should not be interpreted as restricting the right to report judicial proceedings.

In these circumstances the Press Council upheld the appeal by the editor of the Waterford News & Star.  It rejected the appeal by the complainant.