Facts
A newspaper suggested that a former Irish Prime Minister had misled the Irish parliament. It did not include his side of the story.
Issue
Is there a general for political information published to the public?
Held
There is no general privilege for political speech, but the press may have qualified privilege where publication is in the public interest and it acted responsibly. The newspaper failed on the facts.
Principle
Responsible journalism on a matter of public interest can be privileged. Lord Nicholls listed ten factors, such as the seriousness of the allegation, the source, steps taken to verify it, and whether the subject's side was given.
Why it matters
Persuasive in Sierra Leone. It shows how courts balance free speech and reputation.
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd [2001] 2 AC 127 (HL, decided 1999) (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/reynolds-v-times-newspapers> accessed 31 October 2026
This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.