High Court strikes out defamation case against the Irish Examiner

High Court Reporters

A High Court defamation action brought by a former Irish Planning Institute (IPI) executive against the Irish Examiner has been struck out.

Orla Purcell, the former executive director of the representative body, had claimed she was defamed by two articles published by the Cork-based newspaper in January 2023, written by senior reporter Mick Clifford.

The subject of the articles was a report compiled by consultancy firm EY, following an investigation into allegations made against Ms Purcell by another IPI employee.

The Irish Examiner had denied that Ms Purcell, of Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, was defamed by the articles.

The case went to trial in May before a judge and jury, but jurors were unable to reach a decision following deliberations. The case was scheduled to run again this week.

On Tuesday, Mark Harty, counsel for  Ms Purcell, told Mr Justice Tony O’Connor the matter had settled.

John D Fitzgerald, barrister for the Irish Examiner, said the case could be struck out on consent of both parties. Counsel said the court could make an order for Ms Purcell’s legal costs, including costs incurred in the first trial of the action.

Defence Barrister for the newspaper stated that his client never asserted and does not assert that the contents of the EY report are true, or that Ms Purcell was guilty of any wrongdoing.

The judge made the orders as sought.