Barr Tribunal investigating RTÉ report
Friday, 9 July 2004 22:25
Mr Justice Robert Barr has said he is going ahead with an investigation into a decision by an RTÉ radio reporter to broadcast the name of 27-year-old John Carthy on the national airwaves less than an hour before he died.
In a ruling this morning, the retired High Court judge said there were a number of questions surrounding the broadcast by journalist Niall O'Flynn on the Five Seven Live radio programme which he felt it would be proper for the tribunal to consider.
However, the inquiry chairman has ruled that he will not be conducting a general investigation of editorial policy or internal rules regarding the conduct of RTÉ personnel or the station's statutory obligations under section 18 (1B) of the Broadcasting Act 1960.
Counsel for RTÉ had made an application three weeks ago to the Barr Tribunal seeking clarification of its terms of reference after Mr O'Flynn had been questioned at length about the station's editorial policy.
He was also questioned about knowledge of the Broadcasting Act in the context of his broadcast from Abbeylara on the day John Carthy was shot dead.
- News At One: Ciarán Mullooly, Midlands Correspondent, reports on the ruling by Justice Barr that it would be proper for the tribunal to consider several questions arising from the naming on RTÉ Radio
- 9 News: Ciaran Mullooly, Midlands Correspondent, reports on the investigation into the media coverage of the Abbeylara siege
- 6.1 News: Ciarán Mullooly, Midlands Correspondent, reports from the Barr Tribunal on the ruling by Justice Barr that RTÉ Radio's decision to name John Carthy will be investigated
- 1 News: Ciarán Mullooly, Midlands Correspondent, discusses this morning's developments at the Barr Tribunal
