Gray award - Appeal case to Supreme Court

The High Court awarded €70,000 in damages to the Gray family, because they had to leave their family home in Ballybunion, Co Kerry as a result of the gardaí allegedly leaking information to the press about a nephew, James O’Donoghue, a convicted rapist, who had come to live with them.

The judge found that the alleged actions of the gardaí were an infringement of the family’s constitutional right to privacy. This judgment could have enormous civil ramifications, so it should be appealed to the Supreme Court, especially as it could also have significant constitutional implications.

It raises questions about the constitutional rights of victims, and the rights of society as a whole, as well as freedom of information. There are many other victims in this case, and they can hardly be blamed for feeling that they are being forgotten.