Donegal TD Pearse Doherty has insisted that his party legal actions are not a “coordinated campaign” against the media, the party’s finance spokesperson has insisted.
The senior Sinn Féin spokesperson said party members have a right to “defend their good name” and decide on an individual level whether to pursue a case or not.
It comes after a senior judge threw out a “scandalous” attempt by Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly to claim he should be compensated by Belfast Telegraph columnist Malachi O’Doherty who said that the Sinn Féin MLA shot a prison warder in the head.
The judge found that Mr Kelly was someone who a right-thinking person would view as having “lost his moral compass” because he had exploded car bombs in the centre of London, something he defends to this day.
At least eight other cases taken by the party against the media are currently active.
Deputy Doherty said Sinn Fein is not the only political party resorting to court actions against the media.
“When others were taking a case, whether it was Fianna Fáil in their last Government, there were no questions asked,” he said.
“I was the subject of a legal action by Phil Hogan, I know the risks of being on the other side of it, and I also know because I did take a case against a media outlet,” he said.
“I know the risks of taking an action to defend your good name so I understand both sides of it – this is an individual decision.”
Deputy Doherty vehemently denied there was a coordinated campaign of legal action by his party against the media.
“I’m a senior member of Sinn Féin and I know it’s not a coordinated campaign,” he said.
“If I am defamed, whether a member of public office or not, I have a right to defend my good name.
“I have taken that avenue in the past and I may take that avenue in the future.
“It’s not just people from political parties, people in the media are also taking cases against other news outlets in the media.
Following the decision by the judge, Mr O’Doherty told the Belfast Telegraph he “always felt that this was personal and ill judged”.
Mr Kelly meanwhile told the Belfast Telegraph in a statement: “It’s a substantive judgement and I will take time to study it with my legal advisor.”
