Ombudsman welcomes Taoiseach's comments on alternative pathways for media disputes

Muireann Duffy

The Press Ombudsman, Susan McKay, has welcomed comments from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on people seeking redress regarding media coverage about them.

The Taoiseach encouraged those who feel they have been wronged by press coverage to consider using the services of the Press Ombudsman or Press Council of Ireland, rather than taking legal action.

Ms McKay echoed Mr Varadkar's comments, stating her office and the Press Council "deplore" so-called SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) actions.

The ombudsman described such cases as an "intimidating practice" in which "powerful public figures" sue individual journalists in response to public interest news reporting.

Reiterating Mr Varadkar's comments that "people are entitled to sue the media, but they don't have to", Ms McKay stressed that the Press Council and Press Ombudsman provide an alternative to the court system for dispute resolution concerning media coverage.

"The freedom of the press is at the heart of our democracy. We recognise that this carries responsibilities and that is why the Press Council and the Office of the Press Ombudsman were established," Ms McKay said.

She added that a defamation case, even if not upheld, "will almost certainly be financially ruinous for an individual reporter, and will cause severe financial problems for a newspaper, potentially impacting on its ability to invest in quality journalism".

"Politicians, whatever their party background, who choose to sue rather than making a complaint through the Office of the Press Ombudsman, need to ask themselves if this is in the public interest," Ms McKay said.

She also highlighted that her office's services are "free and open to everyone", adding that they respond swiftly to all complaints they receive.

The Press Council's chair Rory Montgomery also voiced his support of the Taoiseach's comments.

"While we respect the right of all individuals to defend their good name, and to use the law if they consider it necessary, we urge public figures and in particular public representatives to follow [Mr Varadkar's] advice," Mr Montgomery said.

"We offer an alternative form of redress based on upholding the highest journalistic standards," he added.