The High Court today found four newspapers guilty of contempt of court over coverage arising from a road accident in Dublin, which claimed the lives of a taxi-driver and a youth.
The proceedings were taken against Independent Newspapers Ltd and its managing editor, Mr Michael Roche, over articles in the Evening Heraldand Irish Independentnewspapers of January 13th; Sunday Newspapers Ltd and Sunday Worldeditor, Mr Colm McGinty, over articles published on January 12th; and Independent Star Ltd and the Irish Daily Stareditor, Mr Gerard Colleran, over articles on January 13th.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly dismissed charges of contempt against RTÉ and Ms Alice O'Sullivan, producer of RTÉ's Gerry Ryan Show.
Mr Justice Kelly Kelly fined the Sunday World €20,000, while The Evening Herald and The Star were fined €10,000 each and the Irish Independent was fined €5,000.
The newspapers had published articles containing background on two youths charged in relation to the fatal incident.