Student drops appeal against newspapers over YouTube video

A student has withdrawn his Supreme Court appeals against various newspapers arising from reports on his dispute over a YouTube video clip falsely accusing him of evading a taxi fare in Dublin at a time he was in Japan.

A separate appeal by Google, YouTube and Facebook against an injunction granted to Eoin McKeogh, Donadea, Co Kildare, requiring them to remove permanently the internet clip, will proceed before the Supreme Court next week.

That appeal raises important issues relating to whether internet-hosting sites have immunity from defamation litigation.

Tom Murphy, appearing for Mr McKeogh, said his client was, on consent, withdrawing appeals against High Court costs orders made in favour of various media after Mr McKeogh lost an application for anonymity in media reports of his case.

Those appeals were being withdrawn on consent of the various media outlets not to execute the costs orders, Chief Justice Mrs Justice Susan Denham was told.