Simon Harris: juries 'inject huge uncertainty’ into defamation cases

Simon Harris, the Minister for Justice, has pledged that the government is committed to abolishing the use of juries in defamation cases.

All High Court defamation trials have to be decided by a jury of 12 men and women but an expert group recommend that the power be given to judges instead to reduce the likelihood of unpredictable awards.

This is included in the draft legislation to overhaul Ireland’s defamation laws but there has been ...