Journalist Challenges Press Council Over Membership Denial

Journalist JJ O'Donoghue has launched a High Court challenge against the Press Council of Ireland for rejecting his local website's membership bid. The council denied Tripe+Drisheen accreditation without providing adequate reasons, according to O'Donoghue. The case will be mentioned in October. The Press Council has been accused of failing to give adequate reasons for its decision.

Journalist JJ O'Donoghue has initiated a High Court challenge against the Press Council of Ireland, alleging that the council failed to provide adequate reasons for rejecting his local website's membership bid. Tripe+Drisheen, a local newsletter published on Substack, was denied accreditation earlier this year [1].

O'Donoghue, the founder and editor of Tripe+Drisheen, has launched judicial review proceedings, arguing that the Press Council did not give sufficient reasons for its decision. The council's chairman, Rory Montgomery, informed O'Donoghue in March that his application did not meet the criteria set out on the Press Council's website. However, O'Donoghue claims that the council did not specify which of the nine criteria his website failed to meet [1].

The case is scheduled for mention in October. The Press Council has set up a subcommittee to review its membership procedures and criteria following the rejection of Tripe+Drisheen's application [1]. The council has declined to comment on the matter, as has O'Donoghue.

The rejection of Tripe+Drisheen's accreditation has significant implications. The website was provisionally selected to receive €38,000 funding under a Coimisiún na Meán scheme aimed at supporting local democracy and court reporting. However, the release of the funds depended on recipients being accredited member publications of the Press Council [1].

The High Court challenge comes at a time when the media industry is experiencing rapid change, with traditional print and broadcast outlets facing increased competition from digital platforms. The Press Council's decision to deny Tripe+Drisheen accreditation has raised questions about the criteria used to evaluate local websites and the transparency of the accreditation process.

References:
[1] https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/22/journalist-brings-high-court-challenge-after-press-council-rejects-local-websites-membership-bid/
[2] https://www.barandbench.com/news/court-orders-of-lathika-pais-unfair-exit-case-against-microsoft-can-be-published-karnataka-high-court