Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0751Defamation · Co. Dublin · 1 Jan 2023

Defamation action against Irish Examiner by former IPI executive resolved

Orla Purcell, a former executive director of the Irish Planning Institute, brought a High Court defamation action against the Irish Examiner over two articles published in January 2023. The articles, written by senior reporter Mick Clifford, concerned a report by consultancy firm EY following an investigation into allegations made against Purcell by another IPI employee. The Irish Examiner denied the claims, said its pleaded meaning was true, and relied on a defence of fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest. As of June 2026 the action was settled, with both sides seeking a one-week adjournment to finalise matters, which the judge granted.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court23 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Orla Purcell, a former executive director of the Irish Planning Institute, claimed she was defamed by two articles published in the Irish Examiner in January 2023.
  • The articles, written by senior reporter Mick Clifford, concerned a report by consultancy firm EY following an investigation into allegations made against Purcell by another IPI employee.
Where
Purcell lives in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
When
The articles were published in January 2023.
Charges
Purcell claimed the statements in the articles were defamatory in meaning and were false, unbalanced and published maliciously knowing they were untrue or being reckless as to their truth.
Other details
  • The Irish Examiner denied the claims, said the articles had a different meaning to that contended by Purcell, and that its pleaded meaning was true.
  • The Irish Examiner relied on a defence of fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest.
  • The defamation action was settled as of June 2026.
In court
  • The defamation action was heard in the High Court.
  • Both sides sought a one-week adjournment to finalise matters, which the judge granted.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPurcell claimed she was defamed by two articles published in January 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe articles concerned an EY report following an investigation into allegations against Purcell by another IPI employee (irishtimes.com)
  • wherePurcell lives in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth sides sought a one-week adjournment to finalise matters (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge granted the adjournment (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA former IPI executive settled her High Court defamation action against the Irish Examiner (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe articles were written by senior reporter Mick Clifford (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Irish Examiner denied the claims and said its pleaded meaning was true (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Irish Examiner relied on a defence of fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Defamation action against Irish Examiner by planning executive resolved, court hears

    Reports that the defamation case has been resolved and a one-week adjournment was granted to finalise matters.

    victim, Orla Purcell, female, irish (judged from name)Orla Purcell