Contempt of court proceedings against Gemma O'Doherty adjourned to July

The adjournment was sought to allow lawyers for Edel Campbell to address a claim made in the proceedings by Ms O'Doherty regarding alleged third-party funding of her case

Ms O'Doherty strongly rejects that she is in contempt of court. File photo: Julien Behal/PA

Contempt of court proceedings against Gemma O'Doherty over her alleged harassment of the mother of a young man who took his own life have been adjourned until next month.

The adjournment was sought to allow lawyers for the young man's mother Edel Campbell address a claim made in the proceedings by Ms O'Doherty regarding alleged third-party funding of her case.

Ms O'Doherty, who was not in court on Wednesday, has claimed that the law which prevents the third-party funding of legal actions — known as 'champerty and maintenance' — has allegedly been broken. She said that an alleged legal expenses fund had been organised for Ms Campbell and it allegedly raised over €24,000.

Many of the donors to this fundraiser where anonymous, Ms O'Doherty has alleged. Ms Campbell's side deny any wrongdoing, and reject Ms O'Doherty's claims.

Ms Campbell of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, has sued Ms O’Doherty, trading as “The Irish Light”, over the alleged unauthorised use of an image of Ms Campbell's late son Diego Gilsenan. The photo was used in an Irish Light article linking unexplained deaths to the covid-19 vaccine.

Ms Campbell secured an injunction restraining Ms O'Doherty, who rejects all Ms Campbell's claims against her, from harassing her. It is alleged that Ms O'Doherty has not complied with that order and Ms Campbell sought orders that could see the defendant sent to prison for contempt due to the alleged breaches.

Ms O'Doherty strongly rejects that she is in contempt of court. The matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Wednesday.

Wednesday's proceedings

Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe Bl, instructed by solicitor Ciaran Mulholland, for Ms Campbell said that his side was seeking time to produce an additional sworn statement in the action. Counsel said it was to address an issue raised by Ms O'Doherty regarding third-party funding.

Counsel said while Ms O'Doherty was not in court, the parties had been notified in advance that the matter was due to be mentioned before the courts on Wednesday.

The judge said that he was prepared to allow the plaintiff's side produce the sworn statement, but said that Ms O'Doherty should be allowed to reply to that document before the matter returns before the court in early July.

The judge, who expressed his concern that the defendant was not in court, also directed the Campbell side to inform the defendant of the court's decision regarding the exchange of further statements in the case.

Previously, another judge of the court rejected Ms O'Doherty's claim that he was biased against her as a basis for not continuing to hear the contempt proceedings against her.

However, Mr Justice Conor Dignam said while he was satisfied she had not met the legal test for bias and for him to recuse himself, another judge can be available to hear further matters in the action. Last year, Mr Justice Dignam had granted the original injunction against Ms O'Doherty.