Sir, – I am truly sick and tired of members of the Irish mass media and the general public saying that we have a “free press” in this country.
The recent defamation action by Denis O’Brien against the Irish Daily Mail (Home News, February 15th), and the jury award to him of €150,000 in damages, should put fear into every member of the mass media and the general public.
Without an entirely free press there cannot be a democracy.
As the counsel for the Irish Daily Mail correctly stated, the right to express an opinion is “vital to society”.
It is my hope that every organ of the Irish mass media and the general public will support the Irish Daily Mail in its appeal. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Denis O’Brien awarded €150,000. Unfortunately, that is all I can say. – Yours, etc,