Censors wanted to sue Irish Times for libel

Posted by Paul McNally on 30 December 2008 at 16:34
Tags: Law, National Newspapers, press freedom

An Irish government body responsible for censoring newspapers had considered suing the Irish Times for libel in 1956 over a leader column, it has emerged.

State documents released today reveal that the attorney general’s office received legal advice that there was “no practical way” that the paper could be sued for the piece, which claimed that copies of the Observer newspaper, carrying a story on birth control, were seized by Irish customs officers under order from the Censorship of Publications Board.

Related: