Silencing the press: Dáil to probe deluge of Sinn Féin court cases taken against media

The Oireachtas Media Committee will hear evidence in January from the Press Council of Ireland, the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and the National Union of Journalists as part of a discussion on the mechanisms available — other than recourse to the courts — for dispute resolution with the media.

The hearings were sought by Fine Gael senator Micheál Carrigy, who was prompted by what he believes is the increasing prevalence of Sinn Féin representatives using the courts in disputes with media organisations and journalists over coverage of them and the party.

‘The legal route is the last route any politician should use to try and stifle free speech’

A coalition of press freedom organisations wrote to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in November, claiming that the number of legal actions “points to a co-ordinated campaign against the media in Ireland”.

The Sunday Independent revealed last month how Sinn Féin politicians and party activists have been involved in at least 18 legal actions against media organisations, journalists, public representatives and other individuals over the last decade or so.

The most recent instance is that of Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews, who is suing The Irish Times and its political correspondent Harry McGee over their reporting of a comment he made on social media the day after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

Mr Andrews is a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee but did not respond to calls or texts seeking to ascertain whether he would take part in the hearings in the new year.

Other Sinn Féin committee members, Louth TD Imelda Munster and senator Fintan Warfield, also did not respond to queries. However, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said the party supports the hearings.

“The committee members look forward to engaging with those who appear before the committee,” they added.

Mr Carrigy said the “trend” of legal actions by public representatives needed to be explored further.

“Unfortunately there seems to be an increasing flow of issues being brought to the High Court or the courts in general — and we just want to highlight other avenues, and encourage all those in political life to exhaust those avenues first,” he said.

​Committee chair Niamh Smyth, a Fianna Fáil TD, said the hearings would be “worthy and worthwhile”, and added: “It is important for democracy and free speech that the legal route is the last route any representative would use to try and stifle free speech.”

The Tánaiste took action against Google after scam adverts used his image online

Sinn Féin has disputed the contention by press freedom bodies that actions by its representatives and members points to a co-ordinated campaign. The party argues that “dozens” of current and former politicians from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have taken or threatened legal action against media outlets.

But Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists, has previously said this is not the case.

“I haven’t experienced that pattern Sinn Féin described,” he said.

One of the 18 cases, involving Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald’s constituency organiser Liam Lappin against Sunday Life, which is published by Sunday Independent publisher Mediahuis, and journalist Ruth Dudley Edwards was dismissed by the High Court last month.

Judge Charles Meenan dismissed Mr Lappin’s claim that he was defamed by an article and photo published in the paper in 2020, saying the complainant’s contended meanings were “strained”, “forced” and “utterly unreasonable”.

Last week it emerged that Tánaiste Micheál Martin has taken legal action against Google in a bid to get information about the source of scam advertisements using his image to promote financial products online.

The action is being taken as Google told Mr Martin it could not supply information about who was responsible for the ads without a court order.