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. 3223Defamation (civil) · Co. Dublin

Defamation action against Qatari royal family cannot proceed in Ireland, High Court rules

Ronnie Delany, an Irish businessman, cannot have his defamation and conspiracy claims against the Qatari royal family (owners of Maybourne Hotels) and a French hotel company heard in the Irish High Court, Judge Conor Dignam ruled, finding the court lacked jurisdiction over the French-based defendants and that the case was not a proper one for service outside the jurisdiction.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Apr
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRonnie Delany is suing the Qatari royal family for alleged defamation and conspiracy (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDelany claims he was defamed in letters published to persons in Ireland as part of a conspiracy (irishtimes.com)
  • whereOne of the allegedly defamatory letters was published in Ireland to Paddy McKillen (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defendants sought to have the actions struck out on the basis that the Irish courts lacked jurisdiction (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIt was claimed Delany did not obtain the leave of the High Court to issue and serve the proceedings outside the jurisdiction (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Conor Dignam refused to allow the proceedings to go ahead in Ireland (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge was not satisfied the Irish High Court had jurisdiction under the Brussels Recast regulation for the SEDH Vista claim (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge was not satisfied that court rules were complied with for Sheikh Al Thani in the SEDH Vista proceedings (irishtimes.com)
  • courtFor the Maybourne proceedings, the court would be entitled to assume jurisdiction for the tort of defamation (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge was not satisfied the case was a proper one for service of the proceedings outside the jurisdiction (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefendants include Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir of Qatar (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefendants include Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabber Al Thani, a Qatari businessman and politician (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Apr2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Defamation action against Qatari royal family cannot proceed here, High Court rules

    High Court judgment refusing to allow the defamation proceedings to proceed in Ireland, finding lack of jurisdiction over French defendants under Brussels Recast and that the case was not a proper one for service outside the jurisdiction.

    victim, Ronnie Delany, male, irish (judged from name)Ronnie Delanysuspect, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, male, Qatari, named, non-irishSheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thanisuspect, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabber Al Thani, male, Qatari, named, non-irishSheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabber Al Thanisuspect, Marc Socker, male, namedMarc Sockersuspect, Gilles De Boissieu, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Gilles De Boissieu