Six Dublin printing and publishing firms face a demand for up to £180,000 combined damages from Irish language author Mr Re O Laighleis, the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin heard yesterday. He claims part of his novel in Irish about drug abuse among teenagers was used without permission in Leaving Certificate textbooks.
Mr Jim Bridgeman, counsel for Mr O Laighleis, of Aileach, Loughreask, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare, said his client, author of a novel entitled Gafa, was suing them for up to £30,000 each for copyright infringement. O hOibicin, trading as An Clo Ceilteach, Droichead Orga.
Mr O Laighleis, whose works have been selected or the secondary schools curriculum, claims the printing and publishing firms without permission published a substantial part of his novel in the compendia of school texts for the Irish language course in the Leaving Certificate. O Laighleas claimed the defendants went ahead without his consent and published the three chapters in school texts.
The Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Esmond Smyth, adjourned until the full hearing of the action in October a number of applications for injunctions restricting publication and circulation of the publications concerned.
Mr Brian O'Moore, counsel for the defendants, said there would be negotiations between the parties in the meantime.