Author denies Coolmore Stud book is defamatory

A Tipperary man who has written a book about his experiences working at Coolmore Stud has asked the High Court for injunctions restraining the stud seeking to frustrate sales of his book.

William Jones, author of The Black Horse Inside Coolmore, claims Coolmore Stud is engaging in a “flagrant” abuse of his right to freedom of speech according to the Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights. He told Mr Justice Paul Gilligan solicitors for Coolmore had written to the Amazon website and various bookshops referring to potential proceedings for defamation in relation to the book and seeking that it be withdrawn from sale.

Mr Jones, who denies any defamation, said, since his book was published in November 2015, he has made repeated requests to Arthur Cox, solicitors for Coolmore, to precisely outline the alleged defamation. That had not been done, he claims.