The Dublin District Court has today denied a request by former chief executive of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) Mr Cian O’Tighearnaigh to restrain press reporting of his case.
Mr O’Tighearnaigh (43) of Mount Argus, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, has been charged with over 41 counts of fraudulent misappropriation of funds.
Det Garda Francis McGroder of the Bureau of Fraud Investigation claimed last month that Mr O’Tighearnaigh had failed to keep proper records, had falsified accounts and had fraudulently converted fundraising monies.
He has denied the charge that he was carrying on business for a fraudulent purpose, contrary to the Companies Act, while head of the ISPCC in December 1998.
Today, counsel for Mr O’Tighearnaigh asked Mr Justice Leo Malone to invoke part of a 1999 Justice Act, which would limit the extent of press coverage of the case.
However, Judge Malone said the act could only be implemented at the preliminary stage of the hearing and said: "I don’t have the power to curb the press".
Mr O’Tighearnaigh was remanded on continuing bail to reappear at the Bridewell Court on February 26th.