Former Irish Planning Institute executive director tells court the 'Irish Examiner' defamed her

Orla Purcell told the High Court: 'So much of what they wrote was untrue that I feel I am unemployable, so long as [the Irish Examiner articles] remain online'

Orla Purcell's defamation case against the 'Irish Examiner' relates to two articles by Mick Clifford. She said she found the discovery that a subordinate 'hated' her 'very upsetting'. Picture: Collins Courts

A former lead executive at the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) has described as “very upsetting” the discovery that a subordinate “hated” her, in a defamation action she has taken against the Irish Examiner.

Orla Purcell, former executive director of the IPI, told the first day of the High Court trial that the policy administrator at the IPI, Michelle Ball, had informed another employee by text “how much she hated” Ms Purcell.