I see Mary Lou is joining the compo culture brigade with a defamation lawsuit against RTE.
Blanch...you have zero answers. You are supposing. If you aren't, then outline the case presented by both sides.
Burden of proof is on those taking the defamation case, in this case, that is Mary-Lou and her supporters.
I can't outline any case presented by Mary-Lou because having listened to a number of interviews on the RTE website, I cannot find any example of where Mary-Lou might have been defamed, which just supports my opinion that she is engaged in a SLAPPs exercise.
All you have to do to counter my argument is to produce anything, any word, any phrase, any sentence, any question from Mary-Lou's engagement with RTE that might be considered defamatory. You can't, because there isn't any.
Of course you can't find it, you are somebody who will cheerlead any allegation against the Shinners and pronounce it proven, I wouldn't expect you to be sensitive to it.
Despite what the usual crew have to say when it comes to anything their beloved SF, this action by MLMD is a disgrace.
Here is what the National Union of Journalists has to say about the matter.
The National Union of Journalists has said the decision by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to sue RTÉ for damages for defamation is “worrying” and could have a “chilling impact on press freedom”.
Séamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the NUJ, was reacting to the news that Ms McDonald had issued High Court proceedings against RTÉ for a Morning Ireland broadcast in February.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/mcdonald-s-legal-action-against-rt%C3%A9-worrying-says-journalists-union-1.4863604
Well, over to you, point me to it. Not a single person on these boards can see or hear or read it, yet RTE haven't taken anything down.
Looks like there is nothing there to see, and Mary-Lou is engaged in a SLAPPs type action.
All your protests and gobbledy-gook nonsense mean nothing unless you can produce the allegedly defamatory piece.
And as I said before, if that is the case she will fail.
The public have a right to know if the tax payer is footing the legal bill for MLMD.
Of course they do.
I'm chillin' like a Villan. I'm amazed by the level of chicken little style dramatics.
People like yourself, who seem to have a problem with MLMD having the right to sue, have accussed her of silencing free speech, censoring the media and compared her to Putin and Maria Bailey.
Amazeballs.
I'd wait until we get official details. No offense to yourself or Francie but the legal opinions of two lads on the net won't settle anything.
Leo didn't have a case, he was caught bang to rights and as you'll be aware there's a file with the DPP, so prima facie evidence that is there will be assessed by the prosecutors.
As I understand it, Regina Doherty the foghorn is at the centre of this litigation (who is an individual with form as you'll know). So yeah, I wouldn't hold my breath that this wasn't defamatory. We'll wait and see.
I think it's poor timing from Mary Lou. I don't think the public are going to think well of her for doing this. The law might decide RTE has a case to answer but the optics are not good. SF's boat is rising on both sides of the border. She has the chance to be Taoiseach. In the big picture this seems an irrelevant side show.
The bit on callans kicks is hilarious on this
Pearse and the boys ask Mary Lou what it's about and break out into a chorus of 'A nation once again' except they're singing it as 'Defamation once again' 😂😂😂
It was funny alright.
A load of posts deleted
If you do not wish to discuss Mary Lou MacDonald suing RTE then do not post, as otherwise I will remove your posting privileges
I read Kevin Myers had a big party celebrating his big payout from RTE last weekend.
I wonder is this partly the reason Joe Brolly and other controversial commentators have been kicked out of RTE. They are **** scared now anyone says anything controversial and will be sued. In fairness it's mostly the political and current affairs department that defame people in RTE.
MLM probably doesn't care about the money. It's about putting the fear into the suits in RTE that they may be sued.
The 'issue' is towards the end when Bríd is asked twice or 3 times by the shows presenter if she's happy sharing a stage with MLM as leader of a party who's members and the IRA disbelieved a rape victim and made her face her rapist
Regina later asks Bríd not to be comparing her to someone who is leader of a party who's members did that
2 questions
Was MLM leader when those events took place ?
Is it reasonable to assume that she had knowledge of the meeting?
If the answer is yes to both,then it's a very stupid case and RTÉ should go to court
Itsl be a very serious mis step by SF if that happens
That literally is what the complaint is about.
Christ, if you are offended THAT easily, god help you.
Can't see how sinn fein can complain about compo culture court cases when their leader takes a compo case like this.
Nobody has a problem with MLMD having the right to sue, the problem is with her exercising her right in a manner straight out of the Trumpian/Putin/Denis O'Brien handbook to silence criticism and curtail free speech. SLAPPs.
No, the question is a simple as this:
Did members of Sinn Fein disbelieve Mairia Cahill and put her in front of her rapist in a kangaroo court?
If the answer to that is yes, then Mary-Lou wasn't defamed.
Even if the answer is no, Mary-Lou may not have been defamed. Given that Gerry Adams admitted in his blog that such incidents occurred throughout the Troubles, the fact is was normal practice for SF/IRA at the time to do that, Mary-Lou's reputation may not be lowered by the specific allegation.
You seem to. You said she was attempting to silence free speech and censor the media. If this wasn't in reference to her suing RTE, can you tell me where you drew this conclusion from and what it has to do with her suing RTE?
Funny how DO'B is the bad guy in the same breath as Trump and Putin. A private business man. You'd wonder why FG are always falling over themselves to do him a sweet deal.
Can you tell me how she has a right to sue but in doing so is guilty of "Mary-Lou isn't interested in the case, she just wants to stop RTE investigating the alleged covering up of child abuse and rape by SF/IRA."? And can you prove this, considering we don't know the details? Isn't it just you hounding the woman and throwing scurrilous claims at her, just because she's suing RTE?
You are saying she's every right to sue, but is trying to cover up child abuse because she is exercising that right.
If she wins heads should roll in RTE. Y'know, where the blame would lie.
Brilliant. Well played. Come in number 5 your time is up 😎
I hope you are paying Ms. Cahill royalties for the amount of times you use her and her name.
So you want SF to bypass the legal system for your kangaroo court?
What manner is that? All she did was sue. You don't even know the details and are comparing her to friends of the government like Trump, O'Brien and Putin. Ridiculous.
Can you explain why she has a right but you hate her for it? Made up scaremongering aside, some solid reasons based on her suing RTE.
Some posters something something mask slips..hateful .mysogny etc.. *roll eyes emoji*
Can you point out the confirmation that the defamation was a result of that interview? and that it is not just speculation? Otherwise you are wasting everyone's time.
Well, maybe you can tell us what the defamation is about. Otherwise, it has to be a SLAPPs action.
It is confirmed by numerous sources that it is this interview with Brid Smith and in relation to the ira/sinn fein inaction against women and children who complained about sexual assault by members of the ira. Ms McDonald continues to deny there was a cover-up by sinn fein, but no-one outside of sinn fein believes her.
Sources include The Times, Irish Times, Business Post, Independent
Free Speech and Journalism need better protections. An editor or producer cant be looking behind their backs afraid of lawsuits. These things silence good reporters.
It is not a favour. Our national broadcaster is obliged to give a platform to major political parties. SF, with the most votes in the last General Election, and far ahead in opinion polls, is thus entitled to significant interview time.
SO zero confirmation by either party, all speculation. Just as I suspected. Doesn't stop the witch hunt though.
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