Courts / Galway / Report

RTE apologises to Declan Ganley over Prime Time broadcast

Date
2020-10-22

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Galway

County
Galway

Summary

The High Court struck out defamation proceedings brought by Galway businessman Declan Ganley against RTÉ following a settlement. Mr Justice Bernard Barton vacated all previous orders, including pretrial orders, with the consent of the parties. RTÉ publicly apologised to Mr Ganley for a Prime Time special programme broadcast on November 27, 2008, which referenced the death of Kosta Tribecka and showed an image of his body. In its apology, read to the court by Paul O'Higgins SC, RTÉ accepted unreservedly that Mr Tribecka's death was wholly unrelated to Mr Ganley or any business related to him, and apologised for any hurt or distress caused. Declan Doyle SC, representing Mr Ganley, confirmed the matter had been settled, which included a financial agreement. Although Mr Ganley was not physically present, he observed the proceedings via video-link. His solicitors, Johnsons, stated that Mr Ganley was satisfied with the apology and the financial terms, noting he regretted having to initiate the action to vindicate his reputation. RTÉ stated it stands over the journalism of the programme, titled 'Citizen Ganley', and expressed relief that a mutually beneficial agreement was reached after a decade of legal argument. No further details of the settlement were disclosed in open court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: RTE apologises to Declan Ganley over Prime Time broadcast. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Struck out

When:

November 27th 2008 Other
November 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
2020-10-22 Publication

Why: "Our client regrets that he had to initiate these defamation proceedings arising from RTE's Prime Time broadcast on November 27th 2008 in order to vindicate his reputation and had to prosecute the claim to this stage before reaching settlement. CNI source report