Media coverage of trials fraught with legal difficulties

Coverage of the separate trials of Catherine O’Connor and Ciprian Grozavu was problematic as a result of an application at Grozavu’s trial to report nothing at all in case it would prejudice the trial of O’Connor.

Barrister James Burke, for O’Connor, made the application after the jury was sworn for the Grozavu trial but before they came out to hear evidence. The DPP supported the application.

Mr Justice Carney did not make an order but said: “My attitude towards this is well known. The press don’t like being told what to do, they like to tell us what to do.