{"id":15136,"date":"2023-04-14T10:18:42","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T09:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cassandravoices.com\/?p=15136"},"modified":"2023-04-14T10:18:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T09:18:42","slug":"reform-of-defamation-law-in-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/casswp.eutonom.eu\/index.php\/2023\/04\/14\/reform-of-defamation-law-in-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Reform of Defamation Law in Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Irish Times<\/em> journalist Naomi O\u2019Leary<\/a><\/span> wrote an article recently commenting on how journalists are curtailed in what they can write by the threat of defamation actions, which contributes to an omerta<\/em> or code of silence, undermining free speech.<\/span><\/p>\n

This leads to self-censorship, dictated by fear of suit. But the Irish Times<\/em> trust also appears to be compromised by association with vested interests<\/a><\/span>, which dictate the blandishments and glorified stenography passing for journalism commonly encountered in its pages.<\/p>\n

In the aforementioned article, O\u2019Leary cited emotive evidence of a landlord attempting to evict \u2018an entire apartment block\u2019, and a civil society group \u2018highlighting privatisation in healthcare\u2019 being silenced. She notes, fawningly, that Minister for Justice Simon Harris this week \u2018laid out a planned defamation reform, saying it should not be perceived as a \u201crich man\u2019s law\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n

Does she seriously think that any reform of defamation laws has simply been designed to restrict the casino capitalism of the current level of awards in defamation cases?<\/p>\n

Indeed, in some instances a high level of damages is appropriate. For example, Lord Aldington<\/a><\/span> was entitled to millions in damages for the outrageous slur that he had participated in sending the Cossacks back to Stalin. The unjustified staining of reputations with crimes against humanity<\/a><\/span> requires vigorous restraints.<\/p>\n

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David Langwallner arges that freedom of speech, a central hallmark of a democracy encouraging diversity and tolerance, is under serious threat from social media.https:\/\/t.co\/DacsViiSF4<\/a>@broadsheet_ie<\/a> @BowesChay<\/a> @MattChristmas<\/a> @danieleidiniph1<\/a> @davidmcw<\/a> @liamherrick @LiamDeegan3<\/a><\/p>\n

— CassandraVoices (@VoicesCassandra) March 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n