John Burns: Scale of damages in Denis O’Brien libel case will fuel calls to take juries out of the equation

Solicitors awarded over €400,000 each after court finds press release defamed them

Denis O’Brien. Inset top: Darragh Mackin. Inset bottom: Gavin Booth

Ten days ago, a jury in the High Court began hearing evidence in a libel case taken by two lawyers against the businessman Denis O’Brien and his spokesman James Morrissey.

At exactly the same time, and less than a mile away, the Seanad was debating proposed changes to Ireland’s defamation law.