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Eoghan Harris bids to stop transfer of defamation case against journalist to High Court

Summary

Eoghan Harris, a former Sunday Independent columnist, has appealed a Circuit Court ruling that transferred his defamation claim against journalist Aoife Moore to the High Court. Harris alleges that Moore defamed him in a May 2021 tweet accusing him of sending her sexualised messages. In response, Moore and fellow journalist Allison Morris have filed separate High Court actions claiming defamation over tweets from an account called "Barbara J. Pym," which they say was operated by Harris and others and portrayed them as partisan and sexualised. Harris's appeal, presented by Remy Farrell SC, argues that his claim should remain in the Circuit Court as a distinct matter, despite similarities with Moore's case. The judge has reserved judgment and will rule later. The case remains pending in the Circuit Court, with no decision yet on the transfer to the High Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Eoghan Harris bids to stop transfer of defamation case against journalist to High Court. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• May 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020 and 2021 Other
• Christmas Other
• 2023-03-24 Publication

Why: Ms Moore, represented by Thomas Hogan SC and Conan Fegan BL instructed by Phoenix Law solicitors, claimed that because there was an overlap on the issues surrounding the claims, both cases should be heard together in the High Court. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report