Inforrm reported on a large number of defamation cases from around the world in 2025. Following a now established tradition, with our widely read posts on 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 defamation cases, we present our own eccentric selection of legally and factually interesting cases from England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Florida from the past year. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Category: Ireland (Page 1 of 8)
Part 2 of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 contains section 3, as follows: Continue reading
The Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 begins as follows: Continue reading
Ireland: Better late than never – the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 is finally here – Eoin O’Dell
1. Introduction
The origins of the aphorism “better late than never” may lie in Livy’s History of Rome (c27-9 BCE). Its first recorded use in English seems to be in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (c1387-1400); in The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale, the Yeoman (pictured right, from the Ellesmere Chaucer) says ([1410]-[1411]). Continue reading
After a long and distinguished career as a popular public servant, first as a councillor, then then as a TD, and finally as a Minister, Pat Carey (pictured left) is now a public affairs consultant. On 11 and 12 November 2015, the Irish Independent reported that a Garda investigation was under way into allegations of child sexual abuse against an un-named former Minister. He claimed that he was identifiable as the person concerned, and he felt he had no choice but to issue a statement denying the allegations. Continue reading
The Irish government has published what is known as a “Draft General Scheme” of its proposed Defamation (Amendment) Bill [pdf]. This includes a proposed new Part 5 of the Defamation Act entitled “Measures against abusive litigation to restrict public participation (SLAPPs)“. Continue reading
The written answer to two Parliamentary Questions on Tuesday 21 February 2023 provides hope for imminent publication of the long awaited the General Scheme of a Defamation (Amendment) Bill, including the introduction of an anti-SLAPP mechanism. Continue reading
The decision of Phelan J in Tallon v Director of Public Prosecutions [2022] IEHC 322 (31 May 2022) is a recent and important judgment on the scope of the free speech rights protected by Article 40.6.1(i) and Article 40.3.1 of the Constitution. It concerns the extent to which an anti-social behaviour order imposed pursuant to section 115(1) of the the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 (also here) can permissibly restrain constitutional free speech rights. Continue reading
Two years ago, the EU established the European Rule of Law Mechanism as a process of dialogue on rule of law issues between the EU institutions, the Member States, and civil society. 2020 saw the first of the annual reports. Continue reading
Long awaited and overdue reviews of defamation laws in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are expected to gather pace in the coming months, creating an opportunity to better align the jurisdictions’ approaches to reputational harm. Continue reading
Recent Judgments
© 2026 Inforrm's Blog
Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑