State urged to probe media in breach of ‘code’

THE Government was advised yesterday to set up a Press Council to investigate and rule on complaints against newspapers and media organisation in breach of a proposed code of conduct.

The recommendations from an expert legal group set up to review defamation law also suggests a defence could be put forward for publications being sued, to argue that allegations were made in the public interest.

The measures will also allow for defamation cases to be dealt with in a quicker and less costly manner.