Ryan Casey settles BBC defamation case over broadcast comments

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ryan Casey, partner of murdered schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, settled his High Court defamation claim against the BBC over comments made about his victim impact statement on The View. The programme aired in November 2023, after Casey spoke at the sentencing of Murphy’s murderer, Josef Puska.

The BBC said it stood by the programme’s journalism but clarified that it did not consider Casey a criminal or racist, or someone guilty of or attempting to incite hatred. It acknowledged his personal tragedy and said the clarification addressed any unintended inferences from the broadcast.

Mr Justice Alex Owens struck out the case and made no order. The settlement was understood to include substantial damages and a contribution toward costs amounting to a six-figure sum. Casey said the resolution ended a long and difficult chapter and left him free to use his voice again to honour Murphy and advocate for change.