Chairman of Press Council issues statement

Bob Hughes is Executive Director of Local Ireland, the association which represents local news publishers across the country.

A journalist and broadcaster, he began his career as a newspaper reporter with the Midland News Association in England, working initially with Shropshire Weekly Newspapers before moving to the daily regional evening publication, the Express and Star.

He then moved to London to become a sub-editor with the Press Association before joining Channel 4 News, ITN, where he became a television producer. He then joined Reuters as a programme editor.

In Ireland, he worked initially for Radio Ireland/Today FM before joining TV3 as Deputy Director of News. His subsequent consultancy work has included Virgin Media Television, the Thomson Foundation and TVC Nigeria. Prior to joining Local Ireland, Bob was a special adviser in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and in the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Judy Murphy been a journalist for more than 35 years, chiefly in print media.As a freelancer, she’s worked for all the country’s national papers, as well as for RTÉ and as a researcher and producer on a range of programmes for TG4.
For the past seven years, she has been Assistant Editor of the Connacht Tribune group. Judy is a member of the West of Ireland branch of the NUJ and is active at Branch and Chapel level. She is keenly interested in the media industry and in its rapidly changing landscape.

Conor O’Donnell is Group Editor of Mail Newspapers Ireland. He was editor of the Irish Mail on Sunday for seven years before being appointed to his current role in 2019. In his 14 years with DMG Media Ireland, he has held the position of night editor and deputy editor of the Irish Daily Mail. Conor started his career in the The Kerryman newspaper, before joining the Irish Examiner where he worked as night editor during his nine years at the paper. He spent over three years in London working for The Daily Telegraph before moving to Dublin.

Roddy O’Sullivan is Duty Editor at The Irish Times. He started at the newspaper as a general news reporter and went on to work in various editing roles, including News Editor and Night Editor. A graduate of DCU’s MA in Journalism, his first jobs in journalism were at UCD where he edited the College Tribune and University Observer. He was appointed to the Press Council in 2023.

Samantha McCaughren is Head of Change (Editorial) at Mediahuis Ireland, the owner of the Irish Independent, Belfast Telegraph and several regional titles, where she plays a key role in the group’s digital transformation projects. She was Business Editor of the Sunday Independent for seven years before being appointed to her current role in 2023. An award-winning journalist, previous roles include senior business journalist positions at the Sunday Times and The Sunday Business Post. She holds a Masters in Journalism from DCU and an honours degree in English and sociology from Trinity College.

Duan Stokes is the Publishing Director of Hot Press and associated media outlets. The organisation encompasses the eponymous print magazine, hotpress.com and a number of other digital, print, social, video and audio platforms. He has been centrally involved in all of the major media innovations at Hot Press over the past 20 years, beginning with the pioneering editorial development of hotpress.com, which he launched in 2002. He has been a driving force behind the integration of print and online activities in the Hot Press organisation. Duan oversees the Irish Music Month project created by Hot Press, in conjunction with the IBI, and funded by the BAI (now Coimisiún na Meán), with additional support from commercial partners. Irish Music Month saw 25 independent Irish radio stations collaborate with Hot Press in supporting indigenous Irish Music as well as being production lead on numerous editorially and culturally driven projects. Previously honorary chairperson of Magazines Ireland, Duan has also represented Irish Magazines on a number of industry bodies, including the JNRS and ABC Ireland.

Dr Tim Hinchey was appointd to the Press Council in August 2020. Tim is a medical doctor in practice in Dublin city. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners. He worked in a wide variety of medical specialities before qualifying as a GP and has nearly 20 years’ experience in medicine.

Tim has worked in both rural and inner-city general practice with diverse patient cohorts. He was awarded the Jessica Laundon Research Medal in 2007.

His special interests include sports medicine, minor surgery and men’s health. He is passionate about science communication.

Edith Geraghty was appointed to the Press Council in August 2020. Edith has over 30 years’ experience working in the voluntary and community sector. She has served on the Joint Policing Committee, the Public Participation Committee and the Foster Care Committee for Mayo and has been a trustee and chair of the Erris No Name Club. She is also the independent chair for the Mayo County Childcare Committee. Previous roles include Director of the Western Region Drugs Task Force and National Development Officer for the No Name Club. Edith’s international work has included the Kettering Foundation in Dayton Ohio, and she serves as an international juror for the Innovation in Politics Award.

Sofi Musleh is a seasoned Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategist with over 18 years of experience spanning corporate, public, and non-profit sectors. She has worked extensively in developing and executing L&D, HR, Employee Relations and Engagement and DEI strategies for multinational organizations such as Novartis, Sodexo, and DocuSign, ensuring alignment between diversity objectives and broader political and organizational goals. A recognized public speaker and thought leader, Sofi has delivered TEDx talks and contributed to high-profile policy discussions on DEI, intersectionality, and inclusive leadership. Her deep personal connection to these issues uniquely informs her work in shaping inclusive political and institutional landscapes. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Complex Art Centre and European Movement Ireland and has previously held governance roles, including as a board member for First Light, a charity dedicated to supporting parents in Ireland going through sudden bereavement.

James Doorley was appointed to the Press Council in 2022 and was elected Vice Chair of the Board in 2024.  He was also appointed as Chairperson of the Administrative Committee of the Press Council in 2024.

James is currently Vice Chairman of the Irish Chamber of Shipping. He previously served as Deputy Director of the National Youth Council of Ireland for over 16 years. He is currently a board member of the Residential Tenancies Board and previously served on the boards of other public bodies, such as the Dental Council. He is a member of the Governing Authority of Maynooth University and a member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland. He is also active at board level with a number of charities and currently serves as Chairperson with both North Leinster Money Advice and Budgeting Service and Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce. He also serves on regulatory committees with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority and the Nursing and Midwifery Board. James has qualifications in social studies, law and corporate governance.

Alan Dukes was appointed to the Press Council in 2022.

Alan has served at various times as Ireland’s Minister for Finance, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Justice, Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, and Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was leader of Fine Gael and Leader of the Opposition from March, 1987 to November 1990 and a member of the Dáil from 1981 to 2002. Among his many roles since leaving politics have been those of Director General of the Institute of International and European Affairs, chairman of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and chair of the AgriVision 2015 group which reported in 2005 on a strategy for the development of agriculture and the food industry. He is an Officier de la Legion d’onneurand a hold the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. He was previously Chief Economist to the Farmers’ Association and an advisor in the cabinet of European Commissioner Richard Burke.

Noeline Blackwell was appointed to the Press Council in May 2024. A solicitor by profession, Noeline is the Online Safety Co-Ordinator with the Children’s Rights Alliance. She has previously served as CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and of the Free Legal Advice Centres, having worked in private practice before that. She is a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. She chairs the Independent Patient Safety Council of the Department of Health and the Child Law Project and sits on the board of the Open Doors Initiative. She was appointed an Adjunct Full Professor at UCD School of Law in April 2024.

Rory Montgomery has been Chair of the Press Council since 1 April 2022. He retired from the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2019. During his career he served in a wide range of posts at home and abroad, including as Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador to France, Second Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach and Second Secretary General at the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was part of the Irish team which negotiated the Good Friday Agreement. He is Honorary Professor of Practice at the George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast, and a member of the Royal Irish Academy.