Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

Will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, when we deal with the Defamation Bill, to consider the sequence of events whereby the courts awarded Ms Julia Kushnir, the woman from the Ukraine, substantial damages regarding the unfortunate and tragic death of our late colleague former Deputy Liam Lawlor. Ms Kushnir deserved the money she got, but it disturbs me that the National Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the newspapers concerned did not acknowledge the great hurt, opprobrium and shame that fell on Mrs. Lawlor and her family. We talk about setting up an ombudsman for the press, and in such a situation the ombudsman could take the lead. It was tragic enough for Mrs. Lawlor to receive the news from Russia that her husband had died, but to read in the Sunday newspapers the allegation that he had been with a prostitute was shameful and damaging. Nobody in the media, especially the newspapers concerned, some of which are powerful, conveyed a sincere apology. Under the existing libel laws the dead cannot prosecute or be compensated, but we should at least let them rest. I urge the newspapers concerned to have the courtesy and dignity to apologise to the widow and family of the late Mr. Lawlor for the severe hurt she must have felt.