Supreme Court upholds €75,000 defamation award to businessman mistakenly named as tax defaulter
In June 2016, Iconic Newspapers Ltd published an article in the Limerick Leader that mistakenly named Irish businessman William Bird as a tax defaulter. A High Court jury found the article defamatory and awarded Mr Bird €75,000 in damages. Iconic Newspapers appealed, arguing the defence of qualified privilege under the Defamation Act 2009 applied to the publication. On 10 July 2025, the Supreme Court, with Mr Justice Maurice Collins delivering the judgment, dismissed the appeal and upheld the €75,000 award. The court also ruled that qualified privilege for mass media applies only in exceptional circumstances, such as reports of judicial and parliamentary proceedings, and is limited to fair and accurate reports.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court10 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Iconic Newspapers Ltd published an article in the Limerick Leader in June 2016 that mistakenly named William Bird as a tax defaulter.
- Cause
- The mistaken identification was the result of a mistake made by the journalist who wrote the article.
- In court
- A High Court jury found the article defamatory and awarded William Bird €75,000 in damages.
- On 10 July 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed Iconic Newspapers' appeal and upheld the €75,000 award.
- The Supreme Court ruled that the defence of qualified privilege for mass media under the Defamation Act 2009 applies only in exceptional circumstances, including reports of judicial and parliamentary proceedings, and is limited to fair and accurate reports.
- Other details
- Mr Bird was entitled to his costs at High Court level rather than Circuit Court level.
- When
- The defamatory article was published in June 2016.
- Where
- The case was heard in Dublin at the High Court and Supreme Court.
4 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe defamatory article was published in the Limerick Leader in June 2016 by Iconic Newspapers Ltd. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe article mistakenly named William Bird as a tax defaulter. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe mistaken identification was the result of a mistake made by the journalist who wrote the article. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr Bird was entitled to his costs at High Court level rather than Circuit Court level. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Jul2025Supreme Court upholds €75,000 award to businessman mistakenly identified as a tax defaulter
Supreme Court judgment delivered by Mr Justice Maurice Collins dismissing Iconic Newspapers' appeal and upholding the €75,000 award, with a ruling on the scope of qualified privilege for mass media under the Defamation Act 2009.
victim, William Bird, male, irish (judged from name)William Bird