The Office of the Press Ombudsman says it is powerless to seek redress for a man, who was wrongly identified as a sex offender and a threat to children on the Facebook page of a local news outlet, as the organisation is not a member.

Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy has called on the protesters who shouted personal insults at President Michael D Higgins to apologise.

Ireland’s Press Council has defended its role in the wake of recent criticisms voiced by Denis O’Brien during his libel action against the Irish Daily Mail.

Fining newspapers for bad behaviour is unlikely to act as a deterrent or boost public confidence in the press, according to the Press Ombudsman.

THE Press Ombudsman has warned young people that material they publish on social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter could be accessed and used by journalists.

At least one complaint was made to the press watchdog every day in its first year, it was revealed today.

THESE last few days, and even weeks, will have been terribly difficult for anyone close to the tragedy surrounding the death of schoolboy Robert Holohan.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has said new legislation governing privacy rights in Ireland will not be introduced for at least two years.

The academic and author John Horgan has been appointed by the newspaper industry as Ireland's first Press Ombudsman.

THE appointment of a national press ombudsman has been welcomed by the newspaper industry.