Gript.ie appealed a decision of the Press Ombudsman made on a complaint submitted by Dublin City University about two articles Gript.ie had published in October 2024.
Gript.ie submitted its appeal on the grounds that there had been an error in the Press Ombudsman’s application of Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) and Principle 5 (Privacy) of the Press Council’s Code of Practice.
At its meeting on 18 June 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.
Decision
The Press Council decided that the Gript.ie did not show that the Press Ombudsman had erred in her application of Principle 1 of the Code in respect of the publication’s obligation to show that it had striven for truth and accuracy.
The Press Council decided that the Press Ombudsman had not erred in her application of Principle 3 of the Code in as much as ultimate responsibility for publication of material obtained by subterfuge rests with the publication, and that publication of the information was not justified in the public interest.
The Press Council decided that the Press Ombudsman had not erred in her application of Principle 5 of the Code in regard to her finding on a breach of privacy, and that publication of the information was not justified in the public interest.