Former planning executive settles High Court defamation case

Jury failed to reach verdict earlier this summer in case brought by former executive director of the Irish Planning Institute, who claimed she was defamed by two articles published by this newspaper in January 2023

Orla Purcell brought a defamation case against the Irish Examiner. Picture: Collins Courts

A former Irish Planning Institute (IPI) executive has settled her High Court defamation action against the Irish Examiner.

Orla Purcell, the former executive director of the representative body, had claimed she was defamed by two articles published by the newspaper in January 2023, written by senior reporter Mick Clifford.

The subject of the articles was a report compiled by consultancy firm EY, following an investigation into allegations made against Ms Purcell by another IPI employee.

Orla Purcell, of Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, had claimed various statements in the articles were defamatory in meaning, and were “false, unbalanced and published maliciously knowing that they were untrue or being reckless as to their truth”.

The Irish Examiner had denied these claims. It said the articles had a different meaning to that contended by Ms Purcell, and that its pleaded meaning was true. The newspaper also relied on a defence of fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest.

A jury in the defamation trial earlier this summer failed to reach a verdict.

On Tuesday, barrister Hugh McDowell, appearing for Ms Purcell, told Mr Justice Tony O’Connor the case had been resolved. He said both sides were seeking a one-week adjournment of the case to finalise matters.

The judge granted the adjournment.