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Julien Behal/PA Wire

Denis O'Brien criticises Sindo for "one of the most biased campaigns ever waged"

O’Brien’s spokesman highlighted a recent edition of the paper which he said contained 15 articles designed solely to discredit the billionaire businessman.

DENIS O’BRIEN’S SPOKESMAN has criticised the Sunday Independent for waging “one of the most concerted and biased campaigns ever waged against any individual in this country” with its coverage of the businessman.

In a letter published in full by Gavin Sheridan at TheStory.ie, James Morrissey highlighted a recent edition of the paper which he said contained 15 articles which merged news with comment “to produce a cocktail designed solely to discredit Denis O’Brien”.

In the letter, Morrissey said that the “agenda-driven journalism” at the Sunday Independent had intensified in recent weeks as O’Brien had increased his shareholding stake in INM. Morrissey said that the paper had not at any time offered O’Brien an opportunity to respond to  the “endless” negative references to him.

The letter was sent to Michael Denieffe, the managing editor of Independent Newspapers and was forwarded to TheStory.ie by a reader. In the letter, Morrissey dismissed a previous letter from Denieffe which had said there was “no basis whatsoever” in the suggestions of an editorial bias or agenda aimed at O’Brien.

“What standards or ethics permit such behavior? Where was balance – a cornerstone of professionalism in journalism – in yesterday’s coverage?” wrote Morrissey in the letter dated 2 April.  ”It was absent because that was what was decided”.

What we witnessed yesterday was pernicious journalism at its worst.

Denis O’Brien has moved closer to bidding for Independent News & Media in recent weeks after he increased his share in the newspaper group to 29.9 per cent – the most someone can own in a company before they have to make a bid for the entire company. O’Brien has moved to consolidate his control over the company since Gavin O’Reilly, son of Tony O’Reilly, stood down as chief executive in April, ending his family’s 30-year control of the company.

INM is due to hold its AGM in early June.

Read the full letter on TheStory.ie >

No deal to give tender for water meters to O’Brien firm, insists minister >

Investor buys 5 per cent of Independent News & Media in one single trade >

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24 Comments
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    Mute Rommel Burke
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    May 15th 2012, 3:05 PM

    Media mogul shocked by media bias! You couldn’t make it up. Well you could but…..I’m past caring.

    101
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    Mute Fagan's
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    May 15th 2012, 2:58 PM

    Dennis you have certainly given them enough material to use against you.

    That said, it has to be one of the lowest grade newspapers I have ever read, full of made up anon. quotes, character assassination and lies.

    (A household journalist in the Sunday Independent confirmed that “Yeah, we make up the quotes, Aengus gave us 50p a word to do it, he once beat a journalist with his own shoe, after he reported the news accurately”).

    85
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    Mute jason bourne
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    May 15th 2012, 3:33 PM

    Is it me or does denis o Brien look incredibly like don conroy in that photo?

    73
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    Mute Cal Mooney
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    May 15th 2012, 4:14 PM

    I dont mean to give the baul Denis a compliment… but he looks more like Rutger Hauer in this photo..
    http://www.avclub.com/articles/rutger-hauer,55531/

    3
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    Mute Begrudgy
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    May 15th 2012, 2:55 PM

    How much has o’brien lost again in his attempted takeover of Indepentant news and media with share price collapse. Definately in the hundreds of millions. Was this revenge and power hungry mission really worth that much ? Guess you just have to ask his ego.

    68
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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    May 15th 2012, 7:01 PM

    Denis will just have to buy out the ”Sindo” and sack Mr Morrissey just like he did with Dunphy and Smyth.

    23
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    Mute Gay Pea McManus
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    May 16th 2012, 3:40 PM

    Could have been worse, at least they didn’t say he had a micropenis or something, that would have have had something to really whinge about, while half the country are on the breadline.

    4
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    Mute Dave
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    May 15th 2012, 3:32 PM

    The Independent is no better than a red top. The whole paper is agenda driven, its not just directed at DOB.

    64
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    Mute Martin Mac
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    May 15th 2012, 4:25 PM

    Whatever about your man O’Brien….he is right about one thing the SINDO “NEWSPAPER” is one the worst & most vested interested driven paper you are EVER likely to read. FACT. I would not use that paper for my cats litter tray its that vile.

    44
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    Mute Kevin O'Sullivan
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    May 15th 2012, 3:20 PM

    A lot of people say that about the Sindo tbh.

    40
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    Mute Charles Fitzgerald
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    May 15th 2012, 5:46 PM

    Man goes from little rich kid with no aptitude for running a business to a billionaire communications mogul by getting a mobile telephony under dubious circumstances. He ‘jokes’ about giving a government minister 100k to his chief executive and claims he should have been able to deduce from the tone of his voice that he was ‘taking the piss’. He the mismanages ESAT for as long as he needs to hold the license, moves to Portugal and flogs the company to O2 for around a 600m profit and claims non residency to avoid CGT. He tells Pat Kenny he took out multiple mortgages on his house to pay for the license. The tribunal finds him a non credible witness and he claims victimization. If only CAB had a corruption wing.

    39
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    Mute Diarmuid Danger Lenihan
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    May 15th 2012, 3:13 PM

    Tis a hard old life for Denis. Hello detective ford !

    28
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    Mute limofax
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    May 15th 2012, 6:17 PM

    Wasn’t he found to be corrupt?
    That said the paper is a piece of s**t anyway.

    23
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    Mute Kieran Clarke
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    May 15th 2012, 6:41 PM

    There is definitely a market for a good sunday newspaper in Ireland, the tribune and independent are rubbish, the times is little more than the English times with about 2 extra articles and while it is very good the sunday business post isn’t exactly for everyone.

    22
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    Mute Ann Toebes
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    May 15th 2012, 11:50 PM

    There hasn’t been a Tribune for about a year now – safe to say you are not missing it!!

    7
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    Mute Kieran Clarke
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    May 16th 2012, 12:44 AM

    Haha I actually lived abroad for most of the year hadn’t realised cheers lol

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    Mute Susie Chester
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    May 15th 2012, 3:43 PM

    He never said any of it was lies tho !

    19
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    Mute Frank Faldo
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    May 15th 2012, 4:08 PM

    I think hes an arogant man but he must remember money is not happiness.

    15
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    Mute Barry McSweeney
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    May 15th 2012, 5:37 PM

    When tax exiles fall out . . . .

    16
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    Mute Mick Conway
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    May 16th 2012, 1:14 AM

    the man is a hero. a through example of an irish man who has gone on to be a success. even if he did some dodgy dealings its how ireland worked at the time. His methods where called into question because he was high profile. You cannot say Denis doesnt have a business brain just look at what he has done since he made a few million with esat. digifone is a huge success one of the biggest telecoms companies ever and no matter where he is a resident now. would you not do the same to protect your income?

    6
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    Mute Frank2521
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    May 15th 2012, 11:49 PM

    O Brien owns all the media as no press will print anything about him as they are afraid of his legal team. My comments were blocked too.

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    Mute Adam Magari
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    May 15th 2012, 11:00 PM

    O’Brien should look on the bright side. The Sunday Independent might have won a subediting contract if the recent tribunal report completion had been put out to tender.

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    Mute Fiachra Maolmordha Ó Raghallaigh
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    May 16th 2012, 12:16 AM

    He handed them the gun (the tribunal), and gave them a worthy motive to shoot them (potential editorial interference).

    Although the Indo is a rag, I doubt O’Brien cares much for journalistic quality – he just wants to stop them from attacking him.

    2
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    Mute Mick Conway
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    May 16th 2012, 1:26 AM

    digicel even*

    1
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