Denis O'Brien gags Waterford Whispers

KomradeBishop

myshirt wrote: »

After Vincent Browne goes, who truly will be left to ask the hard questions of the most powerful in society? Who truly has the balls even?

Yea we really need immediate reform of libel/defamation/free-speech laws in this country - why are no parties campaigning on this? It'd be a hugely popular initiative.

Jayop

michael999999 wrote: »

Let's hope Fine Gael award him another massive state contract to keep him happy!

The water metering contract and the contract they awarded Topaz to provide the emergency service vehicles with fuel obviously isn't enough!

What else can fine Gael do to keep Denis in he's Malta mansion happy?

Funny, WWN asked just that question on Tuesday.

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2015/08/04/government-to-discuss-what-to-give-denis-obrien-this-time/

Eugene Norman

Jayop wrote: »

I know this was in the US, but I wonder what the law is in Ireland with regards libel and satire.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustler_Magazine_v._Falwell

No it doesn't apply here. We have much stricter libel laws.

Chucken

Sky King wrote: »

Anyone thnk it's weird the letter has todays date? Surely it would have been sent yesterday?

The one that was sent to Broadsheet.ie at the end of May was sent by courier I believe, so this one was probably sent the same way.

tomwaterford

actuallylike wrote: »

The term satire seems to get thrown about a lot these days as a loophole to saying whatever you want. I can out someone in public as a paedophile but as long as I'm in a clown suit it's okay. I'm no fan of DOB, nor do I despise him. I do enjoy WWN too but it seems that instead of putting a bit of spin on a statement and let the readers fill in the blanks, they may have made a completely libellous statement but attached 'in a parallel universe' at the start. The fun of satire is that everyone knows what you're talking about, that's the point. They don't need to say it straight, that's how they operate and how they do what they do. But this article didn't leave anything out at all, it didn't require the reader to fill in the blanks. I think they went a bit far and not because it's DOB, I'd say that about anyone.

It's completely made up....Obrien isn't even in jail

Or indeed ever likely to face a judge

Jayop

actuallylike wrote: »

The term satire seems to get thrown about a lot these days as a loophole to saying whatever you want. I can out someone in public as a paedophile but as long as I'm in a clown suit it's okay. I'm no fan of DOB, nor do I despise him. I do enjoy WWN too but it seems that instead of putting a bit of spin on a statement and let the readers fill in the blanks, they may have made a completely libellous statement but attached 'in a parallel universe' at the start. The fun of satire is that everyone knows what you're talking about, that's the point. They don't need to say it straight, that's how they operate and how they do what they do. But this article didn't leave anything out at all, it didn't require the reader to fill in the blanks. I think they went a bit far and not because it's DOB, I'd say that about anyone.

The only thing that they said in the article that wasn't actually true was that the DPP would have the balls to prosecute him. Everything else is public record.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

It's sad that there isn't true free speech in this country.

michael999999

Jayop wrote: »

Funny, WWN asked just that question on Tuesday.

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2015/08/04/government-to-discuss-what-to-give-denis-obrien-this-time/

That's brilliant!

Phoebas

One More Toy wrote: »

Fair play to Waterford whispers, think I'll follow them now

Reiver wrote: »

Rock on WWN. Keep fighting the good fight.

They folded!

actuallylike

Jayop wrote: »

The only thing that they said in the article that wasn't actually true was that the DPP would have the balls to prosecute him. Everything else is public record.

If that's the case and there is nothing there that is slanderous, then it seems his lawyers are insane and so is he. Still skating a little close though. Or they may know a little bit more about the law. I might take this over to the legal forum actually for a bit of clarification.

Eugene Norman

actuallylike wrote: »

If that's the case and there is nothing there that is slanderous, well then his lawyers are insane and so is he. Or they may know a little bit more about the law. I might take this over to the legal forum actually for a bit of clarification.

He had no legal rights to oppose dail privilege either or stop RTE reporting what was said under Dail privilege. He just sent his legal letters to spread fear. It worked.

I haven't read the actual WW piece. I have read the letter from the legal team. Unles that is actual satire (ie written by WW) they have no case at all. Which doesn't mean that people won't back down.

Jayop

Phoebas wrote: »

They folded!

To be fair to them they put up about 4 DOB articles a week so taking down one after a letter like that isn't too bad. Hopefully he keeps putting fresh ones up.

tomwaterford

Phoebas wrote: »

They folded!

It's all the one....it's out now and freely available :pac:

ComfortKid

This makes Enda and Joan holding the JesuisCharlie signs even more ridiculous.

Will we see them with JeSuisWWN signs tomorrow?

Take2Sean

Wouldn't you think he'd have thicker skin at this stage. Surely a PR person somewhere is telling this guy leave it off you're making it worse? It's real vendetta stuff....can't understand the logic of chasing a silly satire website

comongethappy

Having read the WW piece, I don't think it's libelous.

It isn't funny either, but then satire often isn't.

I doubt a law suit would win..... but perhaps WW can't take that risk.

comongethappy

ComfortKid wrote: »

This makes Enda and Joan holding the JesuisCharlie signs even more ridiculous.

Will we see them with JeSuisWWN signs tomorrow?

Only when we confirm that O'Brien killed all those people..... Just like in Paris.

Jayop

ComfortKid wrote: »

This makes Enda and Joan holding the JesuisCharlie signs even more ridiculous.

Will we see them with JeSuisWWN signs tomorrow?

https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisWWN?src=hash

Busted Flat.

Take2Sean wrote: »

Wouldn't you think he'd have thicker skin at this stage. Surely a PR person somewhere is telling this guy leave it off you're making it worse? It's real vendetta stuff....can't understand the logic of chasing a silly satire website

Bullies never give up till they are on their own and meet their match.

donegaLroad

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

It's sad that there isn't true free speech in this country.

hey, check out the first rule on the After Hours charter.. (under Rules and Guidelines)

OneOfThem

Take2Sean wrote: »

can't understand the logic of chasing a silly satire website

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilling_effect

keithclancy

Publicity stunt, they went with it by removing the article.

Solicitors letter doesn't mean anything, any normal person would have just thrown it in the bin.


But it's good for hits.

Take2Sean

The indo app doesn't seem to have this story up. If they do it's well hidden. IT have it top story....I'm actually deleting the Indo. What a joke

jungleman

Jesus his solicitors won't be going bust any time soon. The guy is an absolute cretin.

Between Esat Digifone/Moriarity Tribunal, and the mysterious way which Fine Gael's debt suddenly disappeared in the 90's, he should have seen the inside of a prison cell by now.

If you're reading this DO'B, come and sue me baby. I have €148.25 in my bank account and some socks from Penneys which still have the receipts and are within the 28 day return policy. Come get 'em.

Jayop

Take2Sean wrote: »

The indo app doesn't seem to have this story up. If they do it's well hidden. IT have it top story....I'm actually deleting the Indo. What a joke

The Indo and Today FM are a disgrace. Newstalk is slightly better imo but not much.

rizzodun

Jayop wrote: »

The Indo and Today FM are a disgrace. Newstalk is slightly better imo but not much.

This is the thing, I quite like Matt Cooper but I can't take him seriously seeing as he works in a station owned by DOB, I honestly would love to see what he would have to say about the whole thing if he didn't rely on that pay cheque.

Tin Foil Hat

tomwaterford wrote: »

Because he's rich??

Govt rightly or wrongly don't want to see wealth leave the country?

A spell in jail would stop DOB leaving the country for tax purposes.:D

padd b1975

expectationlost wrote: »

never a fan of waterford whispers,

+1.

More "miss" than "hit".

I can never understand the coverage it gets on social media.

Jayop

padd b1975 wrote: »

+1.

More "miss" than "hit".

I can never understand the coverage it gets on social media.

Because several thousand people generally do find it funny or interesting.

Tin Foil Hat

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Let's not pretend the hatred for DOB stems from that. It comes from Irish begrudgery mostly. That is just incidental.

Strange that only dodgy fukkers and/or arseholes seem to fall victim to the alleged begrudgery of the Irish people!

Take2Sean

Indo app deleted....

tomwaterford

padd b1975 wrote: »

+1.

More "miss" than "hit".

I can never understand the coverage it gets on social media.

Being fair I agree with you....but they've a big hit here!!

jungleman

I deleted the Indo app a long time ago. I'm not a Sinn Fein fan, have never voted for them, but the constant criticism of them in the Indo is actually appalling. I just got fed up with the snide stories, sly digs, and general hatred which skutters out of the Indo towards Sinn Fein.

If you're going to call yourself a journalist, an editor, or a newspaper, at least have the fcuking bollocks to report the news impartially. It's a rag masquerading as a broadsheet. It has more of an agenda than the Daily Mail.

I then made the mistake of downloading the Journal app. Crap stories, crap journalism, lazy mistakes, and has a weird "men-are-****, men-are-evil" attitude.

Jayop

jungleman wrote: »

I deleted the Indo app a long time ago. I'm not a Sinn Fein fan, have never voted for them, but the constant criticism of them in the Indo is actually appalling. I just got fed up with the snide stories, sly digs, and general hatred which skutters out of the Indo towards Sinn Fein.

If you're going to call yourself a journalist, an editor, or a newspaper, at least have the fcuking bollocks to report the news impartially. It's a rag masquerading as a broadsheet. It has more of an agenda than the Daily Mail.

I then made the mistake of downloading the Journal app. Crap stories, crap journalism, lazy mistakes, and has a weird "men-are-****, men-are-evil" attitude.

The IT seems to be the best of a bad lot. I still glance at the Indo for GAA news and feel guilty every time.

michael999999

Take2Sean wrote: »

Indo app deleted....

Well done.

Remember he also owns Topaz, the next time you have to fill the car!

jungleman

Jayop wrote: »

The IT seems to be the best of a bad lot. I still glance at the Indo for GAA news and feel guilty every time.

Yeah I had the IT app for about a week last year, but I had to delete because the layout and design was atrocious. Maybe it's improved since then?

michael999999

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Aint working

Jayop

jungleman wrote: »

Yeah I had the IT app for about a week last year, but I had to delete because the layout and design was atrocious. Maybe it's improved since then?

I just use the mobile site. It's grand on the iPad but crap on the phone.

Jayop

michael999999 wrote: »

Aint working

IvaBigWun

The fact that WWN leaked a solicitor's letter with "Private and Confidential" on there was not a good idea at all.

Tin Foil Hat

https://mobile.twitter.com/RteNoNews/status/629399918587723776

Jayop

IvaBigWun wrote: »

The fact that WWN leaked a solicitor's letter with "Private and Confidential" on there was not a good idea at all.

I thought if it was addressed to him he'd be entitled to show it to whomever he wants and that the P&C would be in relation to someone other than the intended recipient looking at it without their permission.

Could be wrong.

Tin Foil Hat

IvaBigWun wrote: »

The fact that WWN leaked a solicitor's letter with "Private and Confidential" on there was not a good idea at all.

I'm not entirely sure that you get to send an unsolicited communication to somebody marked, "Private and Confidential", and have any legal or moral expectation for it to remain so.
I'd be surprised if WW signed a confidentially agreement regarding this letter.

michael999999

IvaBigWun wrote: »

The fact that WWN leaked a solicitor's letter with "Private and Confidential" on there was not a good idea at all.

I heard he lost it on the bus, and someone put it up on Twitter!

The scamps!!

Akrasia

tomwaterford wrote: »

So he's blocking made up/joke news??

maybe he doesn't know it's a joke?

Kermit.de.frog

I wonder does he have someone employed that trawls the internet 24 hrs a day to see every time his name is mentioned?

conorh91

Jayop wrote: »

The only thing that they said in the article that wasn't actually true was that the DPP would have the balls to prosecute him. Everything else is public record.

Moriarty did not make any finding of criminality against O'Brien, which is the clear implication of the WWN article.

Sure, WWN might claim that it's satire about a parallel universe. This is known to lawyers as false innuendo, which is defamatory.

WWN might claim a defence of qualified privilege as a satirical publication; to do so, they would need to show an absence of malice. I'm not sure they could have done so.

It's probably for the best that they took this down. They're doing themselves a massive favour. Plenty of media figures, such as Martin Turner, manage to use satire in a very clever way without exposing themselves to liability in defamation. I suggest WWN take a leaf out of Martin Turner's sketchpad.

IvaBigWun wrote: »

The fact that WWN leaked a solicitor's letter with "Private and Confidential" on there was not a good idea at all.

That has near-zero consequence. Just because a person claims a legal threat is private and confidential, doesn't mean their claim carries any weight in legal terms.

kenmc

its just a takeover attempt, wwn has a higher readership than all his publications combined.

Mechanical Clocktail

If the maltesian man's affairs weren't dodgy then this wouldn't be happening. There's more that we don't know or his legal aids wouldn't be so bent out of shape. The whole Lowry affair is enough to convince anyone with a brain of this guys character and the way he does business.