Media welcomes ruling on Leech case

Media groups have hailed a decision by the European Court of Human Rights which upheld an appeal by Independent Newspapers regarding a record €1.25m libel payout.

The ECHR ruled that Ireland had breached Article 10 of the European Convention with regard to freedom of expression, after Independent News and Media had argued that the €1.25m libel award by the Supreme Court to former Government press adviser Monica Leech had a chilling effect on journalism.

News Brands Ireland and the National Union of Journalists were among those who welcomed the ruling. Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, said the judgment was a “significant one” and he added that while the case refers to Irish law prior to the introduction of the 2009 Defamation Act, a review of the current legislation would take the ECHR ruling into account.