Ryanair has secured a High Court order compelling Eircom to disclose the identities of two anonymous parties who have been making posts about it on a pilot’s website which the airline says is “highly defamatory”.

Independent TD for North Tipperary Michael Lowry has lost his High Court bid to secure summary disposal of a defamation case brought over comments by journalist Sam Smyth.

Michael Lowry denied in court today that he was a corrupt politician, dishonest, untrustworthy and unfit to be a Minister or a TD.

Journalist Sam Smyth has told a court today that he will meet an application by Tipperary politician Michael Lowry head on in a defamation action.