Contempt proceedings to go ahead against BBC Panorama programme
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin has ruled that the man accused of plotting the Omagh bombing is entitled to bring contempt of court proceedings against the BBC and the Daily Mail newspaper.
Colm Murphy is claiming alleged contempt of court by the BBC's Panorama programme and a follow up report in the Daily Mail.
Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions had argued that Murphy had no legal standing to bring contempt proceedings in the Special Criminal Court and that the only channel for doing so was through the DPP.
However, Mr Justice Diarmuid O’Donovan, presiding, said the section of the Offences against the State Act setting up the court, gave it the same jurisdiction and powers in relation to contempt of court as the High Court.
Justice O'Donovan said Mr O'Connell had conceded that Colm Murphy was entitled to ventilate his case in the High Court and it was the court's view that this was 'a like case'.
The court therefore ruled that Murphy had legal standing to bring his complaint before the Special Criminal Court.
It will rule later on an application by senior counsel for the BBC and Associated Newspapers, Kevin Feeney, for the matter to be dealt with by the High Court.
