The National Consumer Agency is considering prosecuting the Irish Mail on Sunday over its use of a cover bearing the Sunday Tribune title.
'Following further consideration, the National Consumer Agency is now considering a prosecution for a breach of the Consumer Protection Act. Accordingly, the Agency will be making no further comment on this issue.'
Yesterday, the Irish Mail on Sunday went on sale with a front page that appeared to be the Sunday Tribune, but when opened revealed the Irish Mail on Sunday.
The National Union of Journalists also said this morning it would make a formal complaint to the Consumer Protection Agency on the issue.
Irish NUJ Secretary Seamus Dooley condemned the publication as ‘crass and cynical’.
A receiver was appointed to the Sunday Tribune on Tuesday last and the paper is currently in the process of seeking a buyer, although the paper will not be published while that process is in place.
Sunday Tribune Editor Noirin Hegarty said she was appalled and shocked at the Irish Mail on Sunday's attempt to make some of its newspapers look like a copy of the Sunday Tribune.
Ms Hegarty said: 'The Mail On Sunday has shown in this act that it will leave no stone unturned in the race to the bottom.
'The Tribune management and staff and indeed Jim Luby the Receiver are working flat out in the hope of keeping the newspaper afloat.
'We are talking about 43 jobs in Ireland here, not extra remuneration for Associated Newspapers back in the UK.
The Irish Mail On Sunday said in a statement that its 'marketing exercise', which involved the paper using a Sunday Tribune wrap around on its front cover, is to 'persuade as many Tribune readers as possible to keep buying newspapers'.
