This morning.
The Four Courts, Dublin 1
Denis O Brien arrivies to appear as the only witness in his action concerning certain statements made about his business dealings in Dáil Eireann by TDs Catherine Murphy of the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty. The businessman alleges that those statements breached his constitutional right to privacy.
More as we get it.
Rollingnews
Update:
This afternoon.
Denis O’Brien leaves the court after giving evidence.
To wit:
Denis O’Brien explained why he fundamentally believes the confidentiality of banking details is as important as medical records and that it’s important for the country, as a whole, and for the conduct of business.
He said he sought the court order against RTE in the interest of wider privacy.
He said, in parallel to his solicitors being in court, just two miles away their work was being undone. So, he argued, nobody has any protection of the courts if TDs are to act like this.
Mr O’Brien also said the international perspective in relation to this matter is bad for Ireland. People will take a view that Ireland is risky to invest in. It’s a considerable weakness, he said.
Mr O’Brien said he and his family were threatened and feared for their lives. However, he said he’s not speculating what promoted the threats.
Mr O’Brien said he felt having his personal banking details spoken about in the Oireachtas was wrong and the remedy for this would be to remove the ability to name any name on the floor of the Dáil.
He said personal banking files, belong to him, were stolen and given to a TD and that TD should have gone to the gardaí, instead of reading it out in Dáil.
Mr O’Brien stressed to the court that he was taking the action to ensure this would never happen again – to any citizen.
Mr O’Brien also admitted to deliberately trying to prevent media from reporting Dáil business.
Meanwhile, from Mr O’Brien’s testimony, during which he was questioned by Michael Collins SC, for the Dáil Committee for Procedure and Privileges…
Michael Collins: “You used the word reprove in your legal submission to the court.”
Denis O’Brien: “Censure is my preferred word.”
MichaelCollins: “So, you want court to issue it to TDs.”
O’Brien: “Yes.”
Michael Collins:“You want the court to express its disapproval of the TDs.”
O’Brien: “Yes.”
Michael Collins: “You complain re: motivation of TDs, you say they were trying to subvert court, you want court to investigate their motivation and reach a conclusion on it.”
O’Brien: “Yes.”
Michael Collins: “You complain no branch of government has issued adverse commentary re: TDs’ utterances.”
O’Brien: “That’s correct.”
Michael Collins: “You therefore want judiciary branch of government to deplore what occurred and make adverse comment; finding re: statements made by TDs.”
O’Brien: “Yes.”
In addition, Mr O’Brien also answered questions from the Attorney General’s Senior Counsel Maurice Collins…
Mauirce Collins: “Mr Cush [Denis O’Brien’s senior counsel] said, without any order, this complaint could still be brought by you, do you understand the effect of that would be to greatly restrict Dáil speech and isn’t that the intent of this action?”
O’Brien: “Yes. You’re trying to make victims out of two TDs yet I’m the one being wronged here. My details were stolen and given to them and they chose to release it.”
Maurice Collins: “I’m not trying to make any victims. I’m saying you want punitive actions against 2 TDs.”
O’Brien: “If unsuccessful this would never happen again.”
Maurice Collins: “You would say you were vindicated and TDs have been found wrong.”
O’Brien: “Yes.”
Maurice Collins: “Going froward TDs wouldn’t have privilege.”
O’Brien: “There would be a respect of privacy.”
Maurice Collins: “You want both censure of Catherine Murphy and Pearse Doherty and you want censorship of all TDs going forward.”
O’Brien: “The same situation faced by me would not be faced by others in future.”
Mauirce Collins: “Seems you wanted to sue them personally but if determination in this case clears path, you might.”
O’Brien: “It’s unlikely, though not ruled out.”
Maurice Collins: “Do you accept it was accepted by your own counsel and said by court itself on June 2nd that order never intended to extend to Dáil therefore you accept no breach.”
O’Brien: “They did.”
Mauirce Collins: “But your counsel differs from you on that matter.”
O’Brien: “If you say that then it must be true.”
Laughing in court
Maurice Collins: “Your case is founded on assertions and utterances made recklessly and in bad faith and you want court to endorse that?”
O’Brien: “Yes.”
Maurice Collins: “TDs are not here as individuals yet you’re making personal allegations. It’s not abstract.”
O’Brien: “Yes they acted recklessly and maliciously.”
Maurice Collins: “Yet they’re not here to defend themselves.”
More as we get it.
Pics: Rollingnews
Meanwhile…
This afternoon .
People Before Profit protestors outside the Four Courts urging Mr O’Brien to move back home from his tax exile in Malta.
Rollingnews
