Defamation case juries look set to be abolished despite advice

The government looks set to ignore a recommendation from the Oireachtas Justice Committee to retain juries in defamation cases, and will move to instead abolish them through a forthcoming piece of legislation.

Helen McEntee, the justice minister, and her officials have signalled her intention to bring the much-awaited Defamation (Amendment) Bill to cabinet in January. It is understood she is not minded to accept the committee’s recommendation to retain juries.

The abolition of juries is ...