Virgin Media TV removes episode featuring dead man's body, High Court hears
Two sisters, Jennifer McCaffrey and Alison Lynch, brought High Court proceedings against Virgin Media TV and Alley Cat Films Ltd over an episode of the programme First Timers on the Frontline that included footage of their brother Bernard Slean's dead body on the floor of their jointly owned flat in Ayrfield, Dublin, during an ambulance call out on 8 October 2025. The sisters alleged trespass and a breach of privacy, while Virgin disputed the privacy claim citing a counterbalancing public interest and Alley Cat gave an undertaking not to publish the material pending further order. Virgin confirmed via affidavit that the episode had been removed from its streaming service and social media. Judge Brian Cregan struck out the injunction proceedings, with the underlying privacy and trespass claims remaining to be dealt with.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court10 Jun
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Virgin Media TV removed an episode of First Timers on the Frontline from its streaming service and social media, which included footage of Bernard Slean's dead body on the floor of his flat during an ambulance call out.
- Jennifer McCaffrey and Alison Lynch, sisters of the deceased Bernard Slean, brought proceedings against Virgin Media TV and Alley Cat Films Ltd alleging trespass and a breach of privacy.
- Where
- The alleged trespass occurred at a flat in Ayrfield, Dublin, which the sisters owned jointly with their brother.
- When
- The alleged trespass occurred on 8 October 2025.
- Other details
- Virgin disputed the breach of privacy claim citing a counterbalancing public interest.
- Alley Cat Films Ltd gave an undertaking not to publish the material pending further order.
- In court
- Judge Brian Cregan struck out the injunction proceedings after Virgin confirmed via affidavit the episode had been removed.
- The breach of privacy and trespass proceedings remain to be dealt with.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatVirgin Media TV removed the episode from its streaming service (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe programme is called First Timers on the Frontline (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo sisters of the deceased, Bernard Slean, brought the proceedings (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sisters are Jennifer McCaffrey and Alison Lynch (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sisters also claim a breach of privacy (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sisters owned the apartment jointly with their brother (irishtimes.com)
- whatAlley Cat gave an undertaking not to publish the material pending further order (irishtimes.com)
- whatVirgin disputed the breach of privacy claim citing a counterbalancing public interest (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe material was also removed from social media (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged trespass occurred at a flat in Ayrfield, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged trespass occurred on 8 October 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Brian Cregan struck out the injunction proceedings (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe breach of privacy and trespass proceedings remain to be dealt with (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Jun2026Virgin Media TV has removed episode featuring man’s body, High Court hears
Reports that Virgin Media TV confirmed via affidavit the episode had been removed from streaming and social media, leading the court to strike out the injunction proceedings while the underlying privacy and trespass claims continue.
victim, Jennifer McCaffrey, female, irish (judged from name)Jennifer McCaffreyvictim, Alison Lynch, female, irish (judged from name)Alison Lynchvictim, Bernard Slean, male, irish (judged from name)Bernard Slean