Local election candidate avoids jail

A local election candidate in Bundoran, County Donegal, avoided imprisonment at the High Court after agreeing to remove material from YouTube that Bundoran Town Council alleged to be defamatory. Patricia McCafferty, an Independent candidate for Donegal County Council, had previously been directed by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on 1 May to take down the posts and cease distributing election literature. When she failed to comply, she was brought before the court to answer contempt charges. Ms McCafferty, representing herself, undertook to remove the posts and election materials "under protest," stating she rejected the council's claims and intended to appeal the original order. Following her compliance, Mr Justice Gilligan found the contempt issue concluded and awarded legal costs to Bundoran Town Council, though a stay was placed pending the full hearing of the action. The judge directed that a statement of claim be served within 21 days.