Denis O’Brien: Berlusconi assertion defamatory

Businessman Denis O’Brien alleges an assertion that his use of his media and business interests means he has “become Ireland’s Berlusconi” is among several defamatory references to him in a dossier commissioned by an unidentified client from consultancy firm Red Flag.

Yesterday, Mr O’Brien went to the the High Court seeking an order compelling Red Flag to identify that client now. The dossier includes documents referring to “Ireland’s Berlusconi”, alleging Mr O’Brien used “philanthropy as a PR tool” and engaged in “blatant PR exercises in attempt to throw off the negative shroud of the Moriarty Tribunal”, his counsel, Michael Cush SC, told the court.

Those and other statements and documents amounted to an “extraordinary” body of evidence of conspiracy by both lawful and unlawful means, and defamation, counsel argued.