Senator denies trying to silence journalism by referring The Ditch donation to Sipo 

Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne complained to Sipo that the reported donation of €1m over five years by Paddy Cosgrave to The Ditch, comes within the definition of third party under the Electoral Acts. Picture:Gareth Chaney/Collins

The senator who made a complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) regarding a €1m donation to The Ditch website by entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave has denied accusations he is trying to "silence journalism".

Fianna Fáil senator Malcolm Byrne said The Ditch had "missed the point" of his complaint to Sipo, claiming he did so not to censor The Ditch but to "ensure politically motivated platforms are subject to the same campaign finance rules as others".