Hearing on RTÉ’s right to report on O’Brien to resume

A High Court hearing on a temporary injunction preventing RTÉ from reporting on Denis O'Brien's banking affairs is due to resume on Wednesday.

The broadcaster was expected to seek changes to an injunction that prevents it airing a report on the businessman’s banking affairs.

The temporary injunction was granted in May pending a full hearing of an application by Mr O'Brien to prevent RTÉ from broadcasting information about his dealings with the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC).

Mr Justice Donald Binchy clarified on Tuesday that the injunction was not intended to block RTÉ, The Irish Times and other media from reporting comments made by Independent TD Catherine Murphy in the Dáil about Mr O'Brien's financial affairs. At the same hearing, Michael Cush SC, for Mr O'Brien, told the court he would be making an application to vary the order so as to allow for the reporting of Ms Murphy's remarks.

While welcoming that, David Holland SC, for RTÉ, said the difficulty RTÉ found itself in was that Mr Cush’s offer was limited.

He indicated that RTÉ would therefore seek to have the court vary the order to allow the broadcaster to report on any further comments made in the Oireachtas on matters covered by the injunction.

The matter was adjourned until Wednesday.