RTE reporter wins €60,000 damages from Garda Review

RTE's crime correspondent Paul Reynolds has been awarded €60,000 in damages at the Circuit Civil Court, which found that he was seriously defamed by an editorial in the Garda Review six years ago.

Mr Justice Matthew Deery found that the article printed in September 2001, written by the GRA's PJ Stone, depicted Mr Reynolds as a person who did not understand the requirements of due process or the presumption of innocence.

The action arises out of a report by Mr Reynolds on the detention of a Garda in Tenerife in connection with a rape.

The editorial set out that the report amounted to irresponsible journalism and was used to portray the Gardai in an unfavourable light.

The judge said he was satisfied the editorial contained serious defamatory matter concerning Mr Reynolds and added that the appropriate sum in damages would be €60,000.

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