Tributes to press watchdog head

The newspaper industry has paid warm tribute to Press Ombudsman John Horgan as he announces his retirement, describing him as a man with a “uniquely rounded and incredibly insightful perspective” who “commanded universal respect”.

Professor Horgan, a native of Tralee, Co Kerry, was the country’s first Press Ombudsman and was appointed six years ago when the Press Council was first established.

A former UCC student, Evening Press and Irish Times journalist, Labour Party senator and MEP and Professor of Journalism at DCU, his term in office was described as “an unqualified success” by the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI).

“In only his first year, John dealt with more than 300 individual complaints, so he certainly hit the ground running. Since then, both he and the office have gone from strength to strength, and the credibility of our Press Council is such that it was held up at the Leveson Inquiry as an example to other countries of efficient, accessible and fair press regulation,” said NNI co-ordinating director Frank Cullen.

“Naturally NNI will be sorry to lose John in September, but we will always be mindful of how lucky we were to have had him in the first place. He leaves the Office of Press Ombudsman with our gratitude and very best wishes.”

Chairman of the Press Council Dáithi O’Ceallagh said his recently written code of practice handbook, which examined recent judgments, was “illustrative of his wisdom and sound commonsense”.

For his part, Prof Horgan said it was “a great honour and privilege” ” to have served as Ireland’s first Press Ombudsman and warmly praised his staff.

“I am convinced that, whatever forms media may take in the future, our press will meet the challenges it now faces with courage and confidence, and in ways which will ensure the continuing benefits, to the community as a whole, of the best traditions of journalism,” he said.

Since the Ombudsman Office was established it has dealt with more than 2,000 complaints.

However, the number of complaints against newspapers and magazines being probed by the Press Ombudsman has fallen.

Figures from the latest Press Council annual report show that of 575 calls to the watchdog last year, just 84 were officially processed, with 40 ruled on, and 18 of those upheld.

Professor Horgan will stand down in September.