Irish Times Group to wind down BreakingNews.ie 

Some staff will be relocated to other media titles

BreakingNews.ie will not disappear entirely in the short term. It will remain in place and will redirect readers to relevant Irish Times Group publications.

The Irish Times media group is to wind down the BreakingNews.ie website, which has operated since the year 2000.

Staff at the website were informed of the decision this week, some of whom will be relocated to other roles with the group, which includes the Irish Examiner and The Echo titles.

In an update to staff on Friday, Irish Times Group Chief Executive Garry Moroney said the way people access and consume news is very different now, and the commercial environment for standalone breaking-news websites has become much more challenging.

"We have made the difficult decision that BreakingNews.ie will commence winding down the site in its current format. This was not an easy decision. The team has put a huge amount of work, care, and commitment into the site over the years, and that contribution is very much recognised and appreciated," he said.

BreakingNews.ie will not disappear entirely in the short term. It will remain in place and will redirect readers to relevant Irish Times Group publications.

"This change forms part of our wider strategy to focus our resources on strengthening our core publishing businesses, supporting their long-term financial sustainability and protecting the editorial independence that underpins our journalism," Moroney said.

BreakingNews.ie began operations in 2000 as part of the Thomas Croebis Holdings media group in Cork. It was acquired by the Irish Times Group in 20218 when it acquired the Irish Examiner and other regional media titles.

Last year, the Irish Times Group acquired RIP.ie, and sports score website ScoreBeo. It also acquired the remaining 50% shareholding of Gloss Publications and sold its 75% stake in Waterford-based radio station WLR FM to the Daily Mail Group.