Fans e-mailing ‘rape’ names may be sued
The warning comes as television and radio broadcasters take steps to ensure that any chanting by fans, of the names of the players at this weekend’s Premiership fixtures, are not aired.
A spokesperson for RTÉ - which broadcasts highlights of Saturday’s matches on The Premiership - was not available to say what, if any, steps were being taken in this regard.
Lawyers for the players have warned that anyone who publishes or broadcasts the names of the people allegedly involved could face legal action.
This includes broadcasters who inadvertently record chanting from fans which identifies the players.
Yesterday, a lawyer for one of the players reportedly initiated legal proceedings against an individual for spreading rumours by e-mail.
A legal expert here yesterday said that people who were e-mailing details of the allegations to friends and colleagues were engaging in libel, by defaming the players.
“Defamation is the publication of a defamatory statement, and sending an email to your friends is publication,” said Mr Denis Kelleher, barrister and co-author of Information Law in Ireland.
The names of those allegedly involved in the gang rape of a 17-year-old school girl in a top London Hotel have been published on websites and sports newsgroups.
Soccer fans have been reproducing the claims and sending them onto work mates and friends.
Mr Kelleher pointed out that defamation law iswas very strict in Ireland.
He said that the technology on the internet, and the sheer number of consumers and distributors, made it difficult for successful law suits.
“Ultimately, you may have a problem with the technology in how it develops. If you see a rumour like that developing, with millions of people talking about it, who do you then prosecute? How do you then sue? Do you sue everyone?” he said.
English tabloids and broadsheets have so far avoided naming the people allegedly involved, although the Daily Sport has named the club it claimed was involved.
The English Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has warned newspapers that the coverage of the allegations could jeopardise any possible future trial.
Mr Kelleher said the publication of the alleged players’ names on the internet could hamper efforts to draw a jury pool which was not prejudiced.
The allegations first broke last Monday in the Sun newspaper, since when there has been a media frenzy.
The 17-year-old girl, a sixth-former at a Catholic school, claims she consented to sex with one player, but was subsequently attacked by a group of up to seven other players at the Grosvenor House Hotel.
The players alleged to be involved are from more than one Premiership club.
Detectives from the sex crimes unit of Scotland Yard are under pressure to investigate the allegations as quickly as possible.
