Seanad debates

Wednesday, 10 December 2003

Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements.

 

Terrible things have happened, which are being exposed, and I am not taking issue with any of that. It must be worked through and the difficulties in society faced, but it is nonetheless the case that, even if it concerns only perhaps a small minority, there is a temptation to look for compensation or to threaten somebody that unless a sum of money is paid, the person making the threat will go public or make charges. If a person is taken into custody for a brief period, that person may be treated badly on the basis of the allegation alone because people assume that if such an allegation is made, it must be true. All of this relates to defamation. We need to be extraordinarily careful and realise that the climate creates some temptations and that we must find a way of separating the wheat from the chaff. The law should take a serious view of people who make accusations which, as has been said, destroy people's reputations, even probably if they manage to clear themselves of such false accusations.

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