Media fail in libel appeal

JURIES in libel trials are to remain free to award plaintiffs as much damages as they see fit after a European court dismissed a claim by Irish newspapers and RTÉ that a failure to set limits could lead to unfairly high payouts.

The European Court of Human Rights made its ruling in a challenge to the decision of the Irish courts to allow an award of €381,000 (£300,000) to Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa in 1997 in an action he took over a Sunday newspaper article.

The award, the biggest ever made in a libel case in Ireland, together with legal fees and expenses, cost Independent News and Media more than €1 million.