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INDEPENDENT TD CATHERINE Murphy did not breach or abuse her parliamentary privilege when making comments regarding businessman Denis O’Brien’s dealings with IBRC, a Dáil committee has found.
The ruling came this evening from the Oireachtas Committee on Procedures and Privileges (CPP) after it met in private session at Leinster House to consider a complaint from O’Brien’s legal team.
On 28 May, Murphy made specific comments in the Dáil about O’Brien’s loan arrangements with IBRC, the former Anglo Irish Bank, which were published by a number of media organisations, including TheJournal.ie.
These remarks were later temporarily removed by media organisations, including this one, after O’Brien’s solicitors warned that they “breached the terms of a High Court injunction dated 21 May, granted by Mr Justice Binchy” in the case of O’Brien v. RTÉ.
A clarification was later sought in the High Court about whether or not the comments could be reported under the constitutional principle of absolute privilege.
The CPP received a formal complaints from O’Brien and his lawyers about the remarks Murphy made on the Dáil record in letters sent on 28 and 29 May.
The letters to Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett complained that Murphy had behaved ”recklessly” in disclosing information that was the subject of a court order.
At its meeting this evening, the committee agreed that Murphy had not breached any Oireachtas rules or standing orders in relation to her remarks and therefore had not abused or been in breached of parliamentary privilege.
It could not, however, assess whether Murphy’s remarks were in breach of court orders as the Oireachtas is not a court.
Murphy has repeatedly said she was given the information she relayed to the chamber about O’Brien’s banking affairs by reliable sources and reported it on the record of the Dáil in good faith.
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I spent about an hour with him once & I can assure you he is an absolute gent, it was after his illness & he asked me what did I think of the show without him fronting it, I was honest & said shi*e & he laughed for about two minutes & then said “we will leave it there so”
What a joke. RTE need to get rid of him from their current affairs section so just ask him if there is anything he’d like to do. Like most people Bill has a passing interest in sport so they give him that gig, 100 years later and he’s still doing a job he clearly was never qualified to get
And the a$shole of the day award goes to….. Paul, internet troll and all round little sh*t
Paul’s comment was made on November so I will have to remove his a$shole of the day award. Still a douche comment mind you.
Your a fukin knob!!!
If that was aimed at me I’m gonna have to pull the whole Your/You’re card
Great guy…European and World Cup nights just won’t be the same without him.
A wonderful sports presenter. Does the job of being “john everyman” superbly. All ou have to do is compare him to Linekar and Chiles to see what a gem we have.
In fairness to him at least he waited till he was in his 70′s to right about his life…. Not like the gombeens these days.Tho I have always had a quite neutral view on him as a presenter and of course don’t know him personally , I have zero interest in reading his book , especially now he has endorsed a fraudster and thief.
We’ll wrap it up there so
Okey doke!
A brilliant TV presenter with a lighthearted approach to the job, not many like him in RTE, I wish him well.
Why does he need a book?! His job was to talk about football…we hardly need a career summary!
Ah Jesus Creamy, give Billo a break. He’s an institution.
While I wouldn’t be interested myself in his book, I’m sure there are people who would be interested in his life/career. Good luck to him.
It’s a genuine question, I honestly don’t know who the hell would read this? Please someone explain why this would be worth reading?
In a way I agree with creamy, its hardly going to be a nail biter.
Pity to see him go but Darragh maloney will do a good job of filling his boots in my opinion, he’s likeable and let’s the lads have their rants.
I can’t wait to read Sean Quinn’s book when it comes out. I hope he is able to start on the first draft over the next few weeks. No doubt it will be a ‘best seller’
I’d read his book, he is a fantastic guy with a great attitude.
Okey dokey.
Creamy maybe you need to read the book so, since you think he is only a football presenter. Doubt I’d have any interest in a FG sycophant’s book but he is far more than a football presenter!
At least Billo’s written it at a fitting time in his life, unless other opportunistic gobdaws like Jordan or Joe Duffy.
That Gaybo is mad for money he will never retire I wonder has he still the motorbike U2 gave him for a present.
He is mad for money because he had it stolen on him and years later he lost more when property dropped. That bike was sold for charity years ago.
FG shill
RIP Bill. A legend.
Hugh, why was my comment removed??
Gaybo and Bill are exactly like the politicians with various income streams and addicted to money and power. Our kids are emigrating and these people keep on taking. The greed is incredible. Yet they claim to be such nice people. Give somebody else a chance lads and retire Please.
Haha you’re funny. .if you gunna talk like that. .talk about everyone
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