Judgment reserved in 'Anabel' contempt case

Judgment has been reserved in contempt proceedings being taken against three newspapers over their reporting of the Brian Murphy…

Judgment has been reserved in contempt proceedings being taken against three newspapers over their reporting of the Brian Murphy manslaughter trail.

Judge Michael White said after hearing submissions from counsel for the Irish Examiner, the Star on Sundayand the UCD College Tribune that he would give his ruling on May 10th.

Mr Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), told Judge White the DPP was not proceeding with two further cases against the Evening Heraldand the Irish Independent.

Mr Eoin McCullough SC appeared for the Irish Examinerand the Star on Sunday. He told Judge White that in the case of the Irish Examinerhis client apologised for the publication of material that was heard in the absence of the jury during the trial.

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He said this was a "highly regrettable error" and that there had been no intention to interfere with the trial process.

Mr McCullough said on behalf of the Star on Sundaythat an article that referred to the fact that two of the accused were on legal aid was about the issue of the allocation of State resources.

He said this was an issue that the newspaper often made comment on and there was no intention on his client's part of compromising or interfering with the trial.

Mr Johnathan Kilfeather BL said on behalf of the UCD College Tribunethat the editor of the newspaper, Mr Daniel McDonnell, realised the seriousness of what occurred and he said the publication of material heard in the absence of the jury was both unintentional and inadvertent.

Mr Luan O'Braonain for Mr Desmond Ryan, who was convicted of violent disorder in relation to the death of Mr Murphy outside Club Anabel on August 31st, 2000, said his client had privately retained the services of his solicitors and counsel.

He said if the court reached a verdict of contempt in the case he intended to make an application for costs for the one or two days of court proceedings that had been lost when the trial was halted to discuss the contempt of court issue.