The woman complained in October to the non-statutory Press Ombudsman, the newspaper industry self-regulator, over a report in the Waterford News & Star concerning the outcome of the inquest into her husband’s death by suicide.

The report included the name of the man and his wife, their full address, information that the wife had performed CPR until paramedics arrived and the results of a blood analysis which identified, among other things, a cocaine-type substance in the deceased person’s blood.

The woman complained that publication of information about the inclusion of a cocaine-type substance was not relevant as the cause of death was not drugs-related. She also complained about the publication of the graphic detail of how she performed CPR on her husband and the publication of her name and full address.

The editor of the Waterford News & Star offered her deepest sympathies to the complainant and said the newspaper always endeavours to deal with inquests “as sensitively as possible”. However, the woman was still unhappy and the matter was passed to the Press Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman found that the report was “an accurate account of information made public by the inquest” and the information about the blood analysis was “important as part of the understanding of the death”, but agreed that “information about the performance of CPR was unnecessary as it did not add to the understanding”.

He upheld part of the complaint on the basis of a breach of Principle 5 of the Code of Practice of the Press Council (privacy), but did not uphold the claims that there had been breaches of Principle 4 (respect for rights) or Principle 10 (reporting of suicide).

Both the complainant and the editor of the Waterford News & Star appealed the decision of the Press Ombudsman to the Press Council of Ireland on the grounds that there had been an error in the Press Ombudsman’s application of the Code of Practice.

The Press Council considered both appeals earlier this month. It noted that Principle 5.3 of the Code of Practice states that while the feelings of grieving families should be taken into account in publishing information in situations of personal grief or shock, this should not be interpreted as restricting the right to report judicial proceedings.

In these circumstances, the Press Council upheld the appeal by the editor of the Waterford News & Star and rejected the appeal by the complainant.