Public less likely to sue if press complaint upheld

Members of the public whose complaints about newspaper articles are upheld by the press ombudsman may be less likely to sue, according to the chair of the press council.

Dáithí Ó Ceallaigh said in the past six years, those whose complaints were upheld by the press council or press ombudsman “have, by and large, decided not to avail of legal remedies that might still be open to them”.

Mr Ó Ceallaigh said this could be seen as “a vote of confidence in the effectiveness of the code [of practice for newspapers and magazines] and of the enforcement mechanisms built into the structures of the office of the press ombudsman and press council.”

Mr Ó Ceallaigh’s comments are contained in a new handbook of decisions made under the code of practice, published yesterday. The handbook contains summaries of a large number of complaints which were upheld by the press ombudsman or, on referral or on appeal, by the press council.

Mr Ó Ceallaigh said that although the principles of the code of practice do not have legal effect, they may on occasion, require higher standards, or the exercise of more discretion, by journalists than is, strictly speaking, required by the law.

* The handbook can be viewed at presscouncil.ie and pressombudsman.ie