The editor of The Sunday Times appealed the decision of the Press Ombudsman to the Press Council of Ireland on the grounds that there had been errors in the Press Ombudsman’s application of the Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment) and Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) of the Code of Practice.
The editor included a substantial amount of new documentation in his appeal to support his argument that the Press Ombudsman had erred in her application of Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment).
At its meeting on 16 April 2025 the Press Council considered the appeal on the grounds relied upon and on the information, documentation and submissions made by both parties to the appeal.
Appeal Decision
The Press Council decided to uphold the appeal in relation to Principle 2 of the Code. It decided to reject the appeal in relation to Principle 4.
While noting that it was regrettable that the substantial amount of documentation that the editor included in his appeal was not made available to the Press Ombudsman during her consideration of the complaint, it decided to uphold the appeal in relation to the Press Ombudsman’s application of Principle 2 of the Code. It decided that the Press Ombudsman had erred when concluding definitively that specific claims in the article were comment, conjecture, rumour or unconfirmed reports reported as if they were fact.
The Press Council decided to reject the appeal in relation to the Press Ombudsman’s application of Principle 4 of the Code. It decided that the editor had failed to demonstrate that the Press Ombudsman had erred in her application of Principle 4 of the Code to the sub-headline.