Defamation

Defamation is when someone deliberately makes a false statement about you that damages your character. The defamation could damage your reputation, both professionally and personally or create a negative image of you in the minds of the public. 

The Defamation of Character Law of 2009 brought slander and libel under the one definition. Slander used to cover spoken damage to your character, while libel was for written statements. 

Today, you sue for defamation of character regardless of whether it is a case of libel or slander. 

You can suffer defamation of character when:

Defamation of character can have a devastating effect on an individual. People have lost their jobs, relationships, and their professional reputations due to inaccurate statements in the media, online and in public. 

You may sue for defamation of character when the word of others damages your good name and reputation.

The common types of defamation of character in Ireland range from inaccuracies in a newspaper article to false statements on the radio and lies on social media. You could suffer defamation of character very easily but suffer its effects for life. 

Taking a case against the responsible party may be your only option when you suffer reputational damage in one of the many types of defamation of character. 

Common types of defamation of character:

Defamation of character in the written media is a common source of legal action in Ireland. Newspapers and magazines have an obligation to check sources and stories and to weed out lies and inaccuracies. 

If a false story appears about you in the media or explicitly refers to you, though not by name, it could be seen as defamation. Media law is firm on what can and cannot be said about an individual, and outlets must follow the guidelines. 

You may be able to sue for defamation of character if a story in print damages your reputation.

Defamation of character on the broadcast media happens when a presenter, journalist, or contributor makes a false accusation about you during a show. 

The defamation of character law covers all media outlets, both public and commercial broadcasters. You can be defamed on a local radio station as well as on the national broadcaster. 

If you suffer reputational damage on a broadcast media show, you might be able to sue for damages. 

Defamation of character online is seeing a huge increase at the moment. People can publish anything at the click of a button, and often, little fact-checking is involved. 

Publishers of defamatory content online may think they are immune from prosecution, but the truth is different. You can take a defamation of character case against the publisher of a false blog post or online news story. 

There are many aspects to defamation of character online, and PBN solicitors can help when it happens to you. 

False accusations of shoplifting are a perfect example of how defamation of character can work in public. 

If the security guard or manager stops you in the local supermarket and accuses you of stealing, it happens in front of whoever is in the shop. Soon, the word gets around town that you were stopped for shoplifting, even if it is not true. 

Your character will be damaged in the eyes of others. They will not know it is a false accusation, and your reputation as a thief could follow you for life. 

A solicitor can help right the wrong of defamation of character when you are falsely accused of shoplifting. 

False accusations of fraud can happen if someone accuses you of not paying a bill or paying for goods using counterfeit money.

The local restaurant manager may say that you paid for a bill with a stolen credit card, or a client may say you did not provide the service they paid for in full. 

If the stories spread about you are inaccurate, you may be able to sue for defamation of character. 

Your reputation is important, and any false accusations can do a lot of damage. 

An inaccuracy in an employer’s reference can do serious harm to your chances of getting another job and may damage your professional reputation. 

If an employer states you are constantly late or very poor at dealing with clients in your reference, any potential employer may not even give you an interview. The defamation of character could affect your ability to get a position at a similar level or at a similar firm. 

Your defamation solicitor can advise if you have a valid defamation of character case when false accusations appear on your reference letter. 

Types of defamation of character vary, and the malicious falsehoods can damage your reputation, affect your ability to find suitable employment and undermine relationships. 

PBN solicitors can handle your defamation of character claim* and see if you have a valid case for redress.

Your solicitor’s role in a defamation of character case is to advise you on the validity of your claim* and what steps to take to right any wrong done to you. 

Proving defamation can be difficult, but your experienced solicitor can ask the right questions, look at the details of your case and see how to proceed. 

The solicitor will take your claim* to the broadcaster, publisher, or business responsible for the possible defamation of character. Going up against the deep pockets of an established business may be daunting, but the right solicitor will know how to fight your case. 

You could suffer emotional and financial effects today and in the future after a deliberate defamation of your character. The solicitor’s role is to determine what these effects are worth financially and to seek redress from those responsible.

Knowing how defamation of character law works and how to identify and claim* against those responsible is all part of the solicitor’s role when handling your defamation case. 

The experience and expertise of a solicitor come into every case, and PBN solicitors have plenty of it to fight a claim* of defamation of character for you.

To make a claim* for defamation of character, you should contact a defamation solicitor directly. Only a solicitor with experience in defamation can guide you through what can be a complex legal process. 

To make your claim*, the defamation solicitor will need:

Damages in a defamation case can run to the €100,000s, but not all defamation cases go the same way, and it is difficult to know how much a defamation claim* may be worth. 

In Defamation of Character cases, you can seek:

You have one year to make a defamation of character claim* against the person, newspaper, or broadcaster responsible for the accusations against you. 

You must issue the defamation of character within the one-year limit, which means you must have all the evidence ready for your solicitor to make the claim* on time. 

To make a successful claim*, you should contact a defamation solicitor as soon as you realise the false accusation was made and let the solicitor guide you through the legal process. 

PBN have the experience to take your defamation of character claim* and process it within time limits and to an acceptable conclusion.

Start your defamation of character claim* today by contacting PBN solicitors. 

Your reputation and good name could suffer when a false accusation is made against you in print, over the airways, on TV or the internet. 

An accusation of theft or deception could ruin your employment chances and your standing among friends, neighbours and colleagues. 

PBN solicitors can take on your case and work with you to get the redress you deserve. 

We pride ourselves in taking the stress out of defamation of character litigation by providing a service dedicated to the client.

Contact PBN solicitors today for a prompt solution to your defamation of character claim*.