Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis sues former presidential hopeful Nick Delehanty

The Dublin Central TD has initiated High Court proceedings following a dispute over online posts made during the by-election campaign

Nick Delehanty has built an online following in recent years by frequently criticising the Government’s spending on international protection accommodation. File picture: Cillian Sherlock /PA

A Social Democrats TD has lodged High Court papers against a businessman who last year mounted a campaign to become President.

Lawyers for Daniel Ennis issued a plenary summons on Wednesday to Nick Delehanty, a business owner and online commentator who last year unsuccessfully sought the backing of local authorities in a bid to get on the ballot for October's presidential election.

Mr Ennis in May won the Dublin Central by-election, taking a seat vacated by former finance minister Paschal Donohoe. The Social Democrats said the party did not wish to add comment to the filing.

However, lawyers for Mr Ennis had previously written to Mr Delehanty during the campaign over comments he made online which, they said, “through baseless innuendo of wrongdoing” made an attempt to create the impression that a company of which Mr Ennis was company secretary was linked to another person. 

Mr Ennis's lawyers at the time called this a “slur” and “false and untrue and clearly defamatory”. They added that the posts were “clearly designed to cause maximum reputational damage in the lead-up to the Dublin Central by-election”.

In a statement at the time, Mr Ennis said Mr Delehanty's claims had caused "huge anxiety for my family to the point where my mother was abused on the street yesterday”. “I am absolutely going to defend myself against these smears and call them out for what they are — completely fabricated.”

Contacted by the Irish Examiner on Thursday, Mr Delehanty said he had just become aware of the proceedings, so could not comment on their substance. However, he said he denied defaming Mr Ennis and would defend himself. 

He added that his commentary was based on public records and was a matter of public interest based on a candidate for public office. He said he had not alleged any illegality on Mr Ennis's behalf nor that he had acted corruptly.

Mr Ennis, a former League of Ireland footballer, took the seat in May's Dublin Central by-election after topping the poll with 4,900 votes. He beat his fellow Dublin City councillors Janice Boylan of Sinn Féin, Ray McAdam of Fine Gael and independent Malachy Steenson to claim the party's second seat in the constituency alongside Gary Gannon.

Mr Ennis had been a councillor for just under two years, having been elected in 2024's elections.

Mr Delehanty previously ran in the most recent local and general elections, standing for Dublin City Council and later the Dublin Bay South constituency. He was unsuccessful in both campaigns.

He has built an online following in recent years by frequently criticising the Government’s spending on international protection accommodation.

• Paul Hosford is deputy political editor with the Irish Examiner