Blurred Keys

In The Irish Times today, Peter Murtagh writes (’Journalists are supposed to be against abuses‘) about Monica Leech being awarded €1.87 million in her libel case against the Evening Herald / Independent News & Media.

He says journalists should not be standing “shoulder to shoulder” with those who abuse power — in this case the Herald.

The argument on the other side is the large sum awarded will deter serious journalism. But is it not the Herald which is at fault here rather than the jury? Beside money, what else does Independent News and Media understand? What else would make them think twice?

Monica Leech has lost her libel action against the Irish Independent. Leech claimed she was libelled by the newspaper in an article about claims made on the RTE radio show Liveline.

The PR woman previously won €250,000 in damages from RTE due to comments made on the show.

MORE: Leech loses High Court damages action (free access).