Ireland Case No. 5691Contempt of court · Co. Cavan
Contempt of court proceedings against Gemma O'Doherty adjourned in Cavan
Edel Campbell of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, is suing Gemma O'Doherty, editor of The Irish Light, over the alleged unauthorised use of her late son Diego Gilsenan's image in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination. The High Court granted injunctions in June 2023 restraining O'Doherty from harassing Campbell, and in July 2023 granted disclosure orders regarding three Twitter accounts alleged to have breached the order. O'Doherty, who is out of the jurisdiction, has not attended the contempt hearings, and gardaí made 20 efforts to locate her before the judge adjourned the application in March 2024. The contempt proceedings were further adjourned in June 2024 to early July so Campbell's lawyers could address O'Doherty's claim that a fundraiser for her legal expenses breached the law on champerty and maintenance.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Jun
7 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Edel Campbell of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, is suing Gemma O'Doherty, trading as The Irish Light, over the alleged unauthorised use of her late son Diego Gilsenan's image in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination.
- It is alleged O'Doherty made statements in video posts in June, July, August and September 2023 in breach of court orders not to harass Campbell.
- When
- Diego Gilsenan died by suicide in August 2021.
- In court
- In June 2023, Mr Justice Conor Dignam granted High Court orders restraining O'Doherty from harassing Campbell and from publishing images of Campbell or her son, and ordered her to remove such images from media she owns or operates.
- In July 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted disclosure orders directing Twitter to identify the operators of the @cavandrugwatch and @michaelmg3 accounts, with O'Doherty accepting control of the @irishlightpaper account.
- In January 2024, O'Doherty's solicitors asked to come off record, and the contempt hearing was adjourned to 12 February 2024.
- In March 2024, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey adjourned the contempt application until gardaí could execute the order to bring O'Doherty before the court, after 20 efforts to locate her.
- In June 2024, the contempt proceedings were adjourned to early July so Campbell's lawyers could address O'Doherty's claim that a fundraiser allegedly raising over €24,000 for Campbell's legal expenses breached the law on champerty and maintenance.
- Charges
- Campbell's lawyers seek O'Doherty's attachment and possible committal to prison for alleged contempt of court.
- Other details
- O'Doherty is out of the jurisdiction and has not attended the contempt hearings.
- O'Doherty denies all allegations of wrongdoing and rejects any claim that she is in contempt of court.
- Investigation
- O'Doherty reported the fundraiser to gardaí.
67 statements extracted from the articles
- whatEdel Campbell secured High Court orders restraining Gemma O'Doherty from harassing her. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCampbell claims she has been harassed by O'Doherty after suing her over the use of her son's image. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIt is alleged O'Doherty used the image of Campbell's son, Diego Gilsenan, in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Doherty's lawyers said she controls one of three Twitter accounts alleged to have breached a court order. (rte.ie)
- whatO'Doherty accepts she is in charge of the @irishlightpaper Twitter account. (rte.ie)
- whatO'Doherty denies any wrongdoing and intends to contest all allegations. (rte.ie)
- whatO'Doherty has no control over the other two accounts, her counsel said. (rte.ie)
- whatCampbell claims O'Doherty used her son Diego Gilsenan's image in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination. (rte.ie)
- whatO'Doherty rejects all allegations of wrongdoing against her. (rte.ie)
- whatIt is claimed that O’Doherty made statements in video posts in June, July, August and September of last year in breach of court orders. (thejournal.ie)
- whatGardaí have made 20 efforts to locate Gemma O'Doherty so she can be brought before a judge over a contempt complaint. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Campbell has sued Ms O'Doherty, trading as The Irish Light, over alleged unauthorised use of an image of her late son. (rte.ie)
- whereCampbell is from Kingscourt, Co Cavan. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGemma O'Doherty is outside the jurisdiction. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe orders were granted on a Friday evening by Mr Justice Conor Dignam. (irishtimes.com)
- whenDiego Gilsenan died in August 2021. (rte.ie)
- causeCampbell claims the unauthorised and repeated use of her son's image amounts to harassment and a breach of her constitutional rights. (irishtimes.com)
- causeCampbell claims O'Doherty harassed her because she sued over the use of her late son's image. (rte.ie)
- causeCampbell claims O’Doherty used an image of her son Diego Gilsenan in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe contempt application arises from her alleged refusal to obey an order not to harass the mother of a deceased young man. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA fundraiser allegedly raising over €24,000 for Ms Campbell's legal expenses was reported by Ms O'Doherty to gardaí. (rte.ie)
- chargeCampbell’s lawyers seek O’Doherty’s attachment and possible committal to prison for alleged contempt. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe orders restrain O'Doherty from harassing Campbell and from publishing images of Campbell or her son. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge was satisfied that Campbell had made a strong case that O'Doherty's actions amount to harassment. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said he was not making any final determination of the claim. (irishtimes.com)
- courtO'Doherty was not present at Friday's hearing and no representations were made on her behalf. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe action will return before the court at a later date. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJustice Brian O'Moore granted permission to serve short notice of the motion on Twitter and the defendant. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe matter was to return before the High Court later in July 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- courtEdel Campbell secured orders directing Twitter to disclose the identities and contact details of the operators of the other two accounts. (rte.ie)
- courtTwitter said it would not oppose nor consent to the disclosure orders sought. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge granted disclosure orders for the @cavandrugwatch and @michaelmg3 accounts. (rte.ie)
- courtCampbell may bring a contempt motion against the account operators and O'Doherty after the orders. (rte.ie)
- courtCampbell secured an injunction restraining O'Doherty from harassing her and publishing images or personal material about her and her son. (rte.ie)
- courtThe court ordered O'Doherty to remove images of Campbell and her son from media she owns or operates. (rte.ie)
- courtThe injunction stays in place until the final outcome of Campbell's action against O'Doherty. (rte.ie)
- courtO’Doherty’s solicitors asked to come off record and cease representing her in the proceedings. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge adjourned the hearing of the contempt claim until 12 February. (thejournal.ie)
- courtO’Doherty was not in court when the application was due to be heard. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge agreed to further adjourn the application, which could ultimately lead to imprisonment, until gardaí can execute the order. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge the previous week adjourned the matter so gardaí could serve the attachment and committal papers. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge was told that Gemma O'Doherty had not attended and gardaí had not been able to execute the order. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge refused her request to join the hearing by video link because the application seeks her personal attendance at court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe matter was adjourned without a set date, with liberty to apply to bring it back once gardaí can give effect to the order. (irishtimes.com)
- courtContempt of court proceedings against Ms O'Doherty over alleged harassment of the mother of a young man who took his own life were adjourned to a date in July. (rte.ie)
- courtThe adjournment was sought so Ms Campbell's lawyers could address a claim by Ms O'Doherty about third-party funding. (rte.ie)
- courtMs Campbell obtained an injunction restraining Ms O'Doherty from harassing her, and it is alleged the order has not been complied with. (rte.ie)
- courtMs Campbell sought orders that could see Ms O'Doherty sent to prison for contempt over the alleged breaches. (rte.ie)
- courtThe matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Wednesday. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge allowed the plaintiff to produce a sworn statement, with Ms O'Doherty to reply before the matter returns in early July. (rte.ie)
- courtAn earlier judge rejected Ms O'Doherty's claim of bias as a basis for not continuing to hear the contempt proceedings. (rte.ie)
- courtThe matter was mentioned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Wednesday (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Conor Dignam said another judge can be available to hear further matters in the action (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Doherty denied the allegations and rejected all claims that she had done anything wrong, in emails to the plaintiff's lawyers. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCampbell claims anonymous attack accounts were set up on social media to target her. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTwitter said it could not furnish the account holders' information in the absence of a court order. (thejournal.ie)
- otherO’Doherty is currently out of the jurisdiction. (thejournal.ie)
- otherInjunctions granted last June restrain O’Doherty from harassing or intimidating Campbell. (thejournal.ie)
- otherO’Doherty rejects all allegations of wrongdoing made against her. (thejournal.ie)
- otherEdel Campbell is suing Gemma O'Doherty over the use of her son's image in The Irish Light. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGemma O'Doherty was ordered to remove images of Diego Gilsenan from media platforms under her control and not to publish images of him or his family. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIt is claimed there have since been numerous other publications in clear disregard of the court order. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGemma O'Doherty denies any wrongdoing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMs O'Doherty claims the plaintiff has broken the law on champerty and maintenance. (rte.ie)
- otherMs Campbell's side denies any wrongdoing and rejects Ms O'Doherty's claims. (rte.ie)
- otherMs O'Doherty strongly rejects that she is in contempt of court. (rte.ie)
- otherThe photo was used in an Irish Light article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccine (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Jun2024Contempt of court proceedings against Gemma O’Doherty adjourned to July
Reports the adjournment of the contempt proceedings to early July 2024, the plaintiff's side seeking time to produce a sworn statement on the third-party funding issue, and O'Doherty's absence from court.
accused, Gemma O'Doherty, female, named, irish (judged from name)Gemma O'Dohertyvictim, Edel Campbell, female, irish (judged from name)Edel Campbellvictim, Diego Gilsenan, male, non-irish (judged from name)Diego Gilsenan - 12 Jun2024Gemma O'Doherty contempt of court action adjourned
The matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey. The judge allowed the plaintiff to produce a sworn statement on third-party funding, with Ms O'Doherty to reply before the matter returns in early July. Ms O'Doherty reported a fundraiser allegedly raising over €24,000 to gardaí.
victim, Edel Campbell, irish (judged from name)Edel Campbellsuspect, Gemma O'Doherty, named, irish (judged from name)Gemma O'Doherty - 1 Mar2024Gardaí made ‘20 efforts’ to find Gemma O’Doherty to bring her before High Court
Covers the High Court contempt application against Gemma O'Doherty, which the judge adjourned on Friday until gardaí can execute the order to bring her before the court. No existing case in the list matches.
accused, Gemma O'Doherty, named, irish (judged from name)Gemma O'Dohertyvictim, Edel Campbell, irish (judged from name)Edel Campbell - 22 Jan2024Gemma O'Doherty lawyers ask if they can stop representing her in contempt case as hearing put back
Reports that O’Doherty’s solicitors seek to come off record, that she was not in court and is out of the jurisdiction, and that the contempt hearing was adjourned to 12 February 2024. Adds the alleged breach dates and her denial.
victim, Edel Campbell, female, irish (judged from name)Edel Campbellsuspect, Gemma O'Doherty, female, named, irish (judged from name)Gemma O'Doherty - 25 Jul2023Court told of O'Doherty's control of Twitter account
Reports the 25 July 2023 High Court hearing: O'Doherty accepts control of the @irishlightpaper account and denies wrongdoing, and disclosure orders are granted for the @cavandrugwatch and @michaelmg3 accounts, with Twitter not opposing.
victim, Edel Campbell, female, irish (judged from name)Edel Campbellvictim, Diego Gilsenan, male, non-irish (judged from name)Diego Gilsenanaccused, Gemma O'Doherty, female, named, irish (judged from name)Gemma O'Doherty - 17 Jul2023Woman seeks disclosure order against Gemma O'Doherty following alleged breach of injunction
Reports the 17 July 2023 High Court hearing where Campbell's lawyers sought disclosure orders against Twitter and O'Doherty regarding three Twitter accounts (@irishlightpaper, @cavandrugwatch, @michaelmg3) that allegedly published statements breaching the injunction. Justice O'Moore granted permission to serve short notice; the matter was to return later in July 2023.
victim, Edel Campbell, female, irish (judged from name)Edel Campbellsuspect, Gemma O'Doherty, female, named, irish (judged from name)Gemma O'Dohertyvictim, Diego Gilsenan, male, non-irish (judged from name)Diego Gilsenan - 23 Jun2023Court grants orders restraining Gemma O’Doherty from harassing mother of late teen
Reports the High Court injunction granted on Friday 23 June 2023 by Mr Justice Conor Dignam, the interim orders pending a full hearing. It also gives O'Doherty's denial by email and the alleged anonymous attack accounts.
victim, Edel Campbell, female, irish (judged from name)Edel Campbellsuspect, Gemma O'Doherty, female, named, irish (judged from name)Gemma O'Doherty