I will be amazed if the jury in the O’Brien v Irish Daily Mail case finds that the newspaper defamed O’Brien.
Mr. O’Brien is claiming the article, about his appearance in RTÉ news reports on the relief effort after the earthquake in Haiti, accused him of hypocrisy motivated by self-interest.
Senior Counsel Jim O’Callaghan:
To say he was involved for his own self-interest was unfair and grossly defamatory.
Unfair? Perhaps. Grossly defamatory? I don’t think so.
If the precedent of being accused of hypocrisy motivated by self-interest is established we will see a stampede of politicians into the courts claiming damages against the media, ordinary citizens and their fellow politicians.