Libel and defamation claims in Ireland come under the category of personal injury as they relate to the harm of a personal character. In order for libel and defamation claims to be successful, it has to be established that the defendant was negligent in making damaging false statements and that the statements were communicated to another person or group of people. To determine that you have a claim for libel or defamation which it is worth your while to pursue, you are advised to discuss your case with a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible.
Thursday, 28 October, 2010
Shauna Dowdall, then a schoolgirl aged 15, has been awarded €5,000 damages for slander and assault following an incident when she was physically restrained and denied access to the the Luas despite having a valid ticket.
Shauna Dowdall was travelling from the Fatima stop to the city centre and stepped off the tram at the Museum stop to meet a friend before continuing her journey. She was prevented from boarding the tram, causing her stress and embarrassment.
Mr Justice Deery approved a settlement offer of €5,000 damages by Veolia Transport Ireland Limited, to be held in a court account until Shauna is 18 years old.
Posted in Compensation Claims, Libel and Defamation Claims, Libel Compensation Claims - No Comments »
Sunday, 16 May, 2010
Mr. Terry Casey of Barna, Galway, a marketing lecturer at the School of Business in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, has created a legal landmark in Ireland with the first ever civil libel case where the medium was email.
The libel case was taken over an email with attachments that we sent to staff in January 2005 that was sent by Larry Elwood and then resent by Deirdre Lusby, both department heads in the college.
Mr. Casey claimed an assault on his “reputation, integrity and good name”.
The two lecturers apologised to Mr. Casey in a public letter read out in the High Court that “withdraw the imputations and unreservedly and publicly apologise” . The settlement amount was not revealed in court but it is believed to be a six figure amount in addition to costs.
It is not known at this stage if GMIT will take disciplinary action against the two lecturers. This would be normal procedure in the private sector but perhaps not in higher education.
Posted in Libel and Defamation Claims, Libel Compensation Claims, Mental Stress Claims, Workplace Injury Claims - No Comments »
