A recent decision by the Press Council of Ireland should act as a warning that journalists do not have free rein to use content posted to social media, a leading academic has warned.

Voting has begun as campaigners bid to make Ireland the first country to introduce gay marriage by popular vote, Paul O’Connell is set to say farewell to Thomond Park after tomorrow’s game, Six officers have been charged with the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore and Dwayne ’The Rock’ Johnson has officiated at a surpise wedding. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Peter Feeney is to become the new Press Ombudsman.

The Press Ombudsman Professor John Horgan has announced his retirement.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has dashed Fine Gael hopes of bringing in a privacy law.

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.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has denied it is hypocritical to launch a major crackdown on homophobic bullying in schools while some teachers still fear being sacked because they are gay.

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to lodge a complaint with the Press Ombudsman claiming the media has breached his constitutional right to privacy.

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

Industry sources believe the Irish Daily Star will not close even if joint shareholder Richard Desmond follows through on his threat to pull out of the title, while the Government has moved to shore up privacy laws as a result of the controversy.

Ireland's Press Ombudsman has been called to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry next week.

Ireland’s Press Ombudsman has been called to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry next week.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has expressed confidence that Irish newspapers have not engaged in phone hacking or the corruption of police and government officials, unlike some of their British counterparts.

A TAXI driver featured in a Prime Time Investigates on RTÉ intends to sue for defamation, following his successful legal challenge against a decision to suspend his PSV licences.

A taxi driver featured in RTÉ's 'Primetime Investigates' programme intends to sue the national broadcaster for defamation following his successful legal challenge against a decision by the National Transport Authority to suspended his PSV licences.

THE Press Council of Ireland has renewed the appointment of the Press Ombudsman, Professor John Horgan, for a second three-year term.

THE Press Council of Ireland received 351 complaints last year, mostly for alleged breaches of the code of practice, including truth, accuracy and privacy issues.

The following is the text of the Press Ombudsman’s ruling of November 14, 2008 which decided that sufficient remedial action was offered by the Irish Examiner in response to a complaint by Mr Robert O’Farrell.

“A MAN complained that articles published in the Irish Examiner about a court case in which his brother was on trial for assault, and which were illustrated with photographs of his brother and himself, were in breach of Principles 1 (Truth and Accuracy), 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), 4 (Respect for Rights), 5 (Privacy), 7 (Court Reporting) and 9 (Children) of the Code of Practice.

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.

A FORMAL announcement will be made today establishing the Office of Press Ombudsman and the Press Council of Ireland.

THE announcement yesterday that the media academic Professor John Horgan is to become Ireland’s first press ombudsman was a watershed moment for the Irish press, for freedom of expression and — most importantly — for the maturing of relationships between newspapers and their reading public.

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

TÁNAISTE Michael McDowell yesterday gave his full backing to the independent press ombudsman and press council proposed by the print media and journalists.