Businessman seeks injunction over blog on false Anglo claims

A BUSINESSMAN and prominent auctioneer yesterday told a court he had been “grossly injured” by false reports that he was being pursued by Anglo Irish Bank for debts of€1.49 million.

Michael Daly, of Daly Ó Sé Property Consultants, Denny Street, Tralee, Co Kerry, was granted an interim injunction restraining publication of the reports on a leading political blog, Politics.ie.

Judge Terry O’Sullivan presided at the Circuit Court hearing in Killarney and the case was adjourned to the Circuit Court in Listowel on Friday next.

Mr Daly, who previously worked as commercial lending manager with AIB in Tralee for 28 years, told the court he never had any dealings with Anglo Irish Bank, either personally or on behalf of a client.

“Unless I clear my name, I’m in deep trouble. It will destroy my business,” he said.

Former Kerry football star Darragh Ó Sé is Mr Daly’s business partner. He also attended the hearing.

The defendant in the case is David Cochrane, with an address at 19 Crodaun Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare, and described in court documents as the owner of the blog.

Mr Cochrane was not represented in court.

Barrister Joe Revington, for Mr Daly, said there had been 11,983 posts relating to his client on the blog.

In his statement to the court, Mr Daly said, on March 12 last, Mr Cochrane published, under the pseudonym, Kerrynorth, words that meant Anglo Irish Bank had issued proceedings against him for the recovery of debts of €1.49m.

The words also meant he had failed to honour his financial obligations, that he was in serious financial difficulties and that the said property was to be taken into NAMA.

Mr Daly said he had been grossly injured in his character and reputation as an auctioneer and property adviser and his business was suffering loss as a result.

In evidence, Mr Daly said when someone first mentioned to him about the report on Politics.ie, he thought it was a joke. But a big business client then rang him, saying he wanted to talk to (Mr Daly) urgently.

He said he and Darragh Ó Sé found the material after a search on the internet.

Judge O’Sullivan, who said the information should not continue to be published, gave Mr Daly’s legal team the liberty to phone and email any organisations that received information relating to him.