Decided by the Press Ombudsman

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint by solicitors acting for Mr Noel Long that an article published in the Irish Sun on 9 March describing Mr Long as a convicted rapist was inaccurate and therefore a breach of Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint by solicitors acting for Mr Noel Long that an article published in the Sunday World on 11 March describing Mr Long as a convicted rapist was inaccurate and therefore a breach of Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint by Mr Donal Doyle that an article in the Irish Sun on 17 February 2012 was in breach of Principles 1 (Truth and Accuracy) and 5 (Privacy) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

The Press Ombudsman has decided that the Irish Independent took sufficient remedial action to resolve a complaint by Mr Cathal Garvey under Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) and Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines about an article in the Irish independent on 30 November 2011 headlined “Why tug of love parents spell big trouble for schools”.

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint by a member of An Garda Síochána that an article on 10 May 2012 headlined “Gardaí pocketed €3,500 each for overtime during VIP visits” was a breach of Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

The Press Ombudsman has decided that an article published in The Irish Times on 3 February did not breach the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines, and has therefore decided not to uphold a complaint about it under the Code.

The Press Ombudsman has decided that the Irish Examiner took sufficient action to remedy a complaint under Principle 8 (Prejudice) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines about an article on autism it published on 3 February 2012.

The Press Ombudsman has decided not to uphold a number of complaints made by the General Secretary of the Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (ICPSA), Mr John Mc Cormack, that an article published in The Sunday Times on 15 July 2012 headlined “RTE gives job to ‘bottom pincher’” breached Principles 1 (Truth and Accuracy), 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), 3 (Fairness and Honesty), 4 (Respect for Rights), 5 (Privacy) and 7 (Court Reporting) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

The Press Ombudsman has decided not to uphold a complaint by Mr William Mongey that an article published in the Irish Examiner on 1 February last breached Principles 1 (Truth and Accuracy), 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), 3 Fairness and Honesty and 8 (Prejudice) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint by Mr Garth Collier under Principle 5 of the Code of Practice that a photograph of him accompanying an article about him published on 9 October 2011 was taken in a private place without his consent, and was not justified by the public interest.