INM hails ex-journalist after tribunal settlement

Journalist Gemma O’Doherty was yesterday hailed for her “exceptional” work by the very company that made her redundant more than a year ago.

The award-winning reporter lost her job at the Irish Independent after she was selected for “compulsory redundancy” in August 2013.

Independent News & Media (INM) yesterday “unreservedly” apologised to Ms O’Doherty after the parties agreed a settlement in relation to an unfair dismissal case she had taken to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

The Irish Independent paid the investigative journalist an undisclosed sum in damages and agreed to cover her legal costs.

Ms O’Doherty’s solicitor Paul Tweed told the Irish Examiner that the settlement included a separate High Court action, in which she was suing the company for defamation.

Mr Tweed said the High Court case was “still live”, but an announcement would be made in the courts in January withdrawing it.

While the sum of the settlement was not disclosed, it was thought to be very substantial given the separate cases and the extent of the apology.

In a statement read out at the Employment Appeals Tribunal, INM said: “Independent Newspapers wish to acknowledge the exceptional work of multi-award-winning investigative journalist Gemma O’Doherty for the Irish Independent during the course of a lengthy career.

“Independent Newspapers accept that Gemma O’Doherty has acted at all times in a professional and diligent manner and in the best interests of Independent Newspapers. Independent Newspapers unreservedly apologise to Ms O ‘Doherty for the stress and hardship caused to her and her husband as a result of its actions.

“Independent Newspapers have agreed to pay to Ms O’Doherty undisclosed damages and to indemnify her in relation to her legal costs.”

Speaking after the settlement, Ms O’Doherty said: “This very comprehensive apology and expression of regret from Independent Newspaper represents a resounding vindication of my professional and personal reputation.

“I now want to continue in my career in investigative journalism and to continue to uphold the fundamental principles of press freedom and free speech.”

She took the case after being selected for compulsory redundancy after more than 18 years working for the company.

Ms O’Doherty argued that she had been unfairly selected and said it was connected to a conflict with her bosses after she called at the home of former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan as part of a story she was doing about the cancellation of penalty points.

As well as taking an unfair dismissal case through the tribunal, she took legal action in the High Court suing INM for defamation. She was also considering taking an action for personal injuries.

Last May, the unfair dismissals case was adjourned pending written submissions and a decision on whether it should be heard before or after the High Court action.

Lawyers for INM said the case should be put back until the High Court case was dealt with, but this was opposed by Ms O’Doherty’s team.

The Irish Independent “vigorously disputed” last May that Ms O’Doherty had been chosen for compulsory redundancy as retribution for her story on the former police chief.

Brian Kennedy, for the Irish Independent, said the decision to make her redundant was about the nature of services she provided rather than the quality.

He said Ms O’Doherty had called to the home of Mr Callinan at 10pm on April 11, 2013, without informing her editor Stephen Rea. The then garda boss was not in and his wife answered the door.