Decided by the Press Ombudsman

(Articles published in January 2021) The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint made by Dr Niall Meehan that six articles published by The Irish Times in January 2021 breached the Press Council’s Code of Practice.  The newspaper was judged to have taken sufficient action to resolve part of the complaint.

(Article published on 2 February 2021) The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint by Dr Niall Meehan that The Irish Times breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint made by Mr Jim Corr that the Irish Daily Mirror breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) and Principle 8 (Prejudice) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint that the Sunday World breached Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) and Principle 5 (Privacy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.  He found that sufficient remedial action was offered by the newspaper to resolve a complaint under Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment) of the Code, and that there was insufficient evidence to make a decision on a complaint that Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) was breached.

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint made by Greyhound Action Ireland that the Irish Examiner breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint made by Ms Breeda Murphy on behalf of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home Alliance that the Sunday Independent breached Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), Principle 4 (Respect for Rights), Principle 5 (Privacy) and Principle 9 (Children) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has decided not to uphold a complaint made by the Trans Writers Union that the Sunday Independent breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) and Principle 8 (Prejudice) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint made by Ms Catherine Kerins that the Irish Independent breached Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) and Principle 9 (Children) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.

On 15 February 2021 the Press Ombudsman did not uphold a complaint made by the Cork Cannabis Activist Network that The Irish Times breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment) and Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.   He is unable to make a decision part of the complaint made under Principle 1 of the Code as he has insufficient evidence.

On 26 January 2021 the Press Ombudsman has decided that The Irish Times offered to take sufficient action to resolve a complaint by Paul Murphy TD that Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland had been breached. A complaint that Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment) was breached was not upheld.