Media organisations will be watching Defamation Act review closely

The Tánaiste is starting a five-year review of the Defamation Act

Helen Steel and Dave Morris protest against McDonald's 50th anniversary celebrations outside the fastfood chain headquaters in East Finchley, in 2005 Pic: Getty

In 1990, two environmental campaigners issued leaflets to customers outside a branch of the world’s best known food chain. It was headed: “What’s wrong with McDonald’s: everything they don’t want you to know.”

Helen Steel and David Morris soon felt the full might of the hamburger empire when they were sued for defamation. Best described as an inverse David and Goliath battle, the ‘McLibel’ case lasted 15 years and along the way resulted ...