Francesca Comyn: P is for privilege

'Journalists feeling the heat as Charleton Tribunal begins work'

Justice Peter Charleton speaking on the opening day of the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle. Pic: RollingNews.ie
Justice Peter Charleton speaking on the opening day of the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle. Pic: RollingNews.ie

At the Law Society's Justice Media awards some years ago, the then justice minister Michael McDowell gave a speech comparing politicians to wildebeests and journalists to hyenas.

When the wildebeests stick together they can stave off the hyenas but if one falls behind the hyenas circle.

After last week's prickly exchanges betweenthe chairman of the Disclosure Tribunal Justice Peter Charleton and lawyers seeking representation for media organisations, journalists may feel this time round that they are the wildebeests.