File 5 - Defamation case against Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd. 1994

89 pp

Material relating to a defamation case taken by President Mary Robinson (MR) against Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd., following the appearance of a number of articles in various newspapers of the group which had incorrectly implied MR had received a new car over £40,000 more expensive than its predecessor and that of other government ministers, and which resulted with the Independent Newspapers Ltd. publishing a front page apology, donating a substantial figure to various charities chosen by MR, and covering her legal costs. It includes briefing notes and minutes of meeting between Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, Bride Rosney (BR), Special Adviser to the President with responsibility for media relations, and Vincent Doyle, Editor of The Irish Independent, 26/06/1994; correspondence between Simon McCormick, Eugene F Collins Solicitors [for MR] and Doyle, 28/06/1994; correspondence between McCormick, Frank Clarke, SC [Senior Counsel] and John Trainor, BL [Barrister at Law], 28/06-06/07/1994 including draft statement of claim; correspondence between McCormick and McCann FitzGerald solicitors [for Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd], 04/07/1994; memo between BR and MR giving update and summarising case including importance of highlighting cumulative defamation across numerous successive articles, 06/07/1994; memo from BR to PR re meeting she had with McCormack and Trainor on 6th July, and meeting between BR, McCormack, Trainor, Clarke, MR and Nick Robinson on 11th July; photocopy of letter from McCormick to BR with copy of statement of claim settled by Frank Clarke, which was to be filed in the Central Office of the High Court, 13/07/1994; correspondence and memos between PR, BR, McCormick and Ann [Lane, Personal Assistant to the President] in relation to draft apology from Independent Newspaper which was to be published, with handwritten amendments, and later draft from McCann FitzGerald solicitors, 15-28/07/1994; memo from BR to PR listing MR's chosen charities and amounts to be donated by Independent Newspapers, 15/08/1994; photocopies of various newspaper articles in question, and cutting with apology, 15/06-[29/07]/1994.

[Archivist's Note: This was the first time that a Head of State had taken legal proceedings while in office.]

Ref: P143/4/8/1/5

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