Decided by the Press Ombudsman

The Press Ombudsman has decided not to uphold a complaint by Mr Enda Fanning about the publication of his son’s photograph by the Irish Sun.

On 24 June 2015 the Irish Independent and Independent.ie published an article under the heading “Boycott of Tel Aviv feis shows the face of real bigotry”, which commented on a campaign to dissuade an Irish dancing troupe from performing in Israel.   

The Press Ombudsman has upheld a complaint made by Mr Sean McGlynn that a court report published in the Donegal News on 27 March 2015 breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has decided that The Sunday Times offered to take sufficient remedial action to resolve part of a complaint made by Michelle Mulherin TD.   He decided not to uphold other parts of the complaint.

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint made by Northway Estate Residents’ Association that an article published in The Herald on 10 April 2015 breached  Principles 1 (Truth and Accuracy) and 4 (Respect for Rights) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint by a parent that an article published in the Sligo Weekender breached Principle 5 (Privacy) and Principle 9 (Children) of the Code of Practice.  Other parts of the complaint were not upheld.

The Press Ombudsman has decided not to uphold a complaint by Mr Kieran Coughlan that an article published in the Irish Daily Mail on 2 December 2014 breached  Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 2 (Distinguishing fact and Comment), Principle 3 (Fairness and Honesty) and Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

The Press Ombudsman has decided not to uphold a complaint by Mr Hugh McGrath, Senior Executive Engineer with Clare County Council, that an article published in the Clare Champion on l9 December 2014 breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), Principle 3 (Fairness and Honesty), Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) and Principle 5 (Privacy) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines

The Sunday World (11 January 2015) reported on a funeral and stated that Mr Sean Fitzgerald was among a number of other named people who had “paid their respects”.  Mr Fitzgerald wrote to the editor of the Sunday World stating that he had not attended the wake, the funeral mass or the cremation of the deceased and that he was not amongst the mourners. Mr Fitzgerald did not receive a reply form the Sunday World. In a subsequent letter to the Press Ombudsman’s Office Mr Fitzgerald claimed that the report had breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 3 (Fairness and Honesty), Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) and Principle 8 (Prejudice) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

In December 2014 the Press Ombudsman upheld a complaint by Ms Marion Coy concerning a report into an inquiry at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.  The newspaper appealed the decision to the Press Council of Ireland. In January 2015 the Council rejected the newspaper’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the Press Ombudsman. On 10 April 2015 the Galway City Tribune published the decision of the Press Ombudsman and the Press Council.