Courts / Dublin / Report

"No effective editorial control": Daily Mail fined for contempt over Kriegel coverage

Date
2019-07-08

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Lucan

County
Dublin

Summary

In July 2019, the Irish Daily Mail editor Sebastian Hamilton was fined €4,500 after a court found him guilty of contempt for a front‑page headline that posed a real risk to the trial of two boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Anastasia Kriegel. The headline, "CCTV shows Ana being led to her death," was deemed inaccurate and potentially prejudicial. The court noted that Hamilton's consultation system with court reporter Helen Bruce was inadequate and that there was no effective editorial control over the story's presentation. The publisher, Associated News (Ireland) Ltd, was fined €25,000. Hamilton was ordered to pay the fine within six weeks or face three months' imprisonment, and the company was also ordered to pay the DPP's costs. The case highlighted the importance of accurate reporting during ongoing trials.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "No effective editorial control": Daily Mail fined for contempt over Kriegel coverage. Charges or matters: contempt, while Mr Hamilton denied the contempt charge. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When: