Reporter Byrne to sue Virgin Media after being suspended

Broadcaster Paul Byrne has launched High Court proceedings over internal disciplinary proceedings brought against him by his employer Virgin Media.

Mr Byrne, who is the broadcaster’s southern correspondent, was suspended from his role following a live report he made on the afternoon of February 9 last concerning the death of a young boy in Co Waterford.

He claims that he was suspended after information he gave in the broadcast, which he claims was also carried by other media outlets, turned out not to be accurate. At the time he had believed the information to be credible.

He claims his employer informed him that he was being suspended for allegedly breaching the broadcasters News Guidelines and Production Handbook, because he had failed to speak to his line manager about the matter in advance of the broadcast.

The disciplinary process, he claims, could result in his dismissal for alleged gross misconduct.

He denies any wrongdoing, and claims that the process engaged by his employer is flawed, punitive, disproportionate and should be set aside. He also claims that the process lacks credibility and is in breach of his contractual rights. As a result he is seeking a High Court injunction restraining Virgin Media Ireland Ltd, and Virgin Media Television Ltd, from continuing the disciplinary process against him.

The court heard that in correspondence the defendants rejected Mr Byrne’s claims against them and about the disciplinary process. They said that given its role as a public broadcaster it deems the alleged breach as being “serious in nature” and informed him that “steps needed to be taken to avoid a repeat”.

Mr Byrne’s counsel Eoin Clifford SC told the court that the disciplinary process commenced by the reporter’s employer is “irredeemably flawed” and “should be set at naught”.

Counsel said that as part of his client’s broadcast on February 9 Mr Byrne had stated that one line of inquiry being considered by the gardaí as part of the investigation into the child’s death was that the boy had allegedly been drowned and placed into a car.

His client had cited the allegation after checking it with at least two credible sources, and after two other media outlets had published the same information.

The information later turned out not to be true, and Mr Byrne was later suspended on full pay from his job.

The case will return before the court next week.