Vet’s defamation actions must be joined together, says judge

A judge has directed three actions by an Irish vet and the stud farm he runs in Japan which allege they have suffered reputational damage and defamation must be consolidated into one and heard together.

Dr Harry Sweeney and Y K Paca Paca Farm have initiated three actions separately suing University of Limerick and two women who, at the time of alleged events in 2014, were students of UL on equine studies placements at the farm in Hokkaido, Japan.

Ms Justice Miriam O’Regan ruled on Friday all three actions should be consolidated into one, and returned the matter for further directions to the end of the month.

UL had sought consolidation of the cases, but its application was opposed by lawyers for Dr Sweeney and the farm on grounds including the claims against the university, including alleged breach of fair procedures, were “entirely different” than those against the students.

The case against UL by Dr Sweeney and his farm arises from how the university arranged, allegedly without notice to the plaintiffs, for removal of the students in March 2014 from their equine studies placement, which they began in January 2014.

Embassy assistance

The court was told that UL, after being contacted by the students' parents, had sought assistance from the Irish Embassy in Tokyo, and the two students left the farm by taxi on March 19th, 2014.

It is claimed Dr Sweeney and the farm suffered reputational damage due to UL’s actions on grounds including a scheduled visit to the farm that same day by an Irish government minister was cancelled at short notice.

Lawyers for UL told Judge O’Regan it acted at the request of the students’ parents, who had been contacted by their daughters seeking to go home, and arising from its concerns over the mental health of the students.

The judge was told the students had made complaints to their parents about Dr Sweeney.

Solicitors for one student stated in correspondence claims that Dr Sweeney behaved inappropriately towards her and sexually harassed her during her placement, the court heard.

Claims denied

In a sworn statement to the court, Robert Dore, solicitor for Dr Sweeney, said his client denies those claims.

A statement of claim has been filed in the case against UL, which has not to date filed a defence. Statements of claims have yet to be filed in the cases against each of the two students.

The plaintiffs claim difficulties emerged with the two students during their placement, and Dr Sweeney had informed one of them, following an incident on March 16th, 2014, she should consider herself suspended while her behaviour on the farm was being considered.

The following day, St Patrick’s Day 2014, Dr Sweeney says he sent emails to UL notifying it of “extremely serious difficulties” with some students on placement, and stating consideration was being given to sending one of them home. He also claims he had a long conversation with an agent of UL on March 18th about difficulties being experienced with the students.