Paul Tweed secures damages from RTÉ for ex-presidential candidate

Defamation lawyer Paul Tweed has secured substantial damages, said to be €130,000, from RTÉ over its treatment of his client, former presidential candidate Sean Gallagher, during the televised election debate in 2011.

In a statement to the High Court, counsel for RTÉ accepted that it had “made mistakes and failed to comply with its statutory duty under section 39 of the Broadcasting Act in the course of The Frontline live Presidential Election debate programme which was broadcast on 24 October 2011”.

Mr Gallagher was a frontrunner in the presidential contest at the time, but ultimately came second place to winner Michael D. Higgins.

On behalf of his client, Mr Tweed (pictured) said: “Sean Gallagher is satisfied that RTÉ have, before the High Court today, acknowledged their failure to treat Mr Gallagher with due fairness and impartiality in the preparation and broadcast of the Presidential Debate in 2011, which has been supported by the payment of substantial damages.

“Mr Gallagher hopes that this apology and acknowledgement of the BAI findings and RTÉ’s own internal Report prepared by Rob Morrison and Steve Carson, will lead to significant improvement in procedure and protocol for the next Presidential Debate in 2018.

“Sean Gallagher’s motivation in taking this case has not just been about addressing the unfairness shown to him but also about protecting the integrity of the democratic process and ensuring that what happened to him will not be allowed to happen again.”