777/2021 - Dr Christine Gaffney, Ms Rachel Moran, Professor Kathleen Stock and The Irish Times

The complainants appealed the decision of the Press Ombudsman to the Press Council of Ireland on the grounds that the Press Ombudsman had erred in his application of the Code of Practice. 

In their appeal the appellants argued that the Press Ombudsman’s decision that the proposed action by the newspaper was sufficient to address their complaint was in error, and that the decision neglected key aspects of the Code of Practice under which their complaint was submitted.

Decision of Press Council on appeal

The Press Council considered the appeal at its meeting on Friday, 1 October 2021 and decided to reject it on the grounds that the Press Ombudsman had not erred in his application of the Code of Practice.

In coming to its decision the Council noted that the article was clearly an opinion piece and that the offer of redress made by the editor provided ample opportunity to the complainants to give a different perspective on the opinions and information presented in the article.