We stand over decision not to name names

IN her column Colette Browne (Opinion, dec 21) attacked the Limerick Leader for failing to follow the lead of four national newspapers, the Irish Examiner included, by publishing the names and addresses of 21 men who appeared at Limerick District Court as a result of a garda operation targeting the soliciting of prostitutes.

Ms Browne is clearly satisfied with her newspaper’s stance on this matter and paints the Limerick Leader as errant and confused. She argues that the national papers did their duty and reported without fear or favour, while the Limerick Leader “set a dangerous precedent” by choosing not to publish the men’s identities. She makes the spurious and patronising claim that the Limerick Leader had had “an existential crisis” over the issue of whether to publish the names. We had nothing of the sort: we made the decision for reasons that I absolutely stand over. We made it early and we did not waver from it. We have been straightforward and transparent in explaining our reason to readers. We made it clear that we chose to make an exception on this occasion because of the unique circumstances involved. We cited the fact that while nobody can be in any doubt now about the potential consequences of approaching a prostitute, the 27 men charged in this operation had no warning that their lives — and those of their families — were at risk of being turned upside down, so that others might be discouraged. Ms Browne suggests the Limerick Leader’s court reporting has been undermined and speculates on what might happen regarding future court cases in our paper. I absolutely reject this.

We have stated that once the remaining six cases tied to this operation have been dealt with, we will publish the names in any further prosecutions for the same offence. Fair warning has now been served, but in my view not to those who have been made an example of. That is the reason we did not name these men. We stand over that decision.