Denis O'Brien, Vincent Browne, Moriarty, Media and Libel - What a Mix

[PaddyJoe]

Correspondence between Vincent Brown and Denis O'Brien from June and July 2012
http://politico.ie/irish-politics/86...nt-browne.html

[PaddyJoe]

Some specimen of a bully boy is Denis:

You're wide ranging and highly personalised attacks on me of late, particularly the Irish Times article, are grossly offensive to me and my family. It has left me in no doubt as to your general disdain for me. I am bewildered by this attitude on your part; particularly considering the fact that I have always afforded you, personally and professionally, a high degree of respect and dignity. Clearly however, you feel that I am undeserving of any reciprocation.
I am putting you on good notice that if you continue to libel me in your TV programme or your IT column I will be left with no other avenue but to sue you personally

[DCon]

Some specimen of a bully boy is Denis:

You're? I think he means Your

[ang]

Some specimen of a bully boy is Denis:

Vinny responded to that paragraph quite well -

[Kev Bar]

Some specimen of a bully boy is Denis:

It's great that we are having this alongside The Quinn Saga.
Gives a touch of Greek drama which takes the edge off the disgust.

[ang]

More on this from Vincent in todays IT -

I outlined in detail the reasons why, in my opinion, he should not be allowed to control an appreciable section of the media here. I stated it was my intention to do a number of television programmes and newspaper columns on the Moriarty report because of the significance of the findings to a person who now wielded very considerable power in our society. I said I would base my comments on the specific findings and, where relevant, would acknowledge his rejection of the findings.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...dl0sDF.twitter

[DCon]

The Story have a piece on this, and related items, today

http://thestory.ie/2012/08/07/denis-...incent-browne/

[PaddyJoe]

It seems that Browne wrote an earlier version of this letter to O'Brien while on holiday(presumably)in France but then redrafted it and sent the version which has been published on politico.ie.
According to Browne's IT piece today DOB replied to his letter on July 20th:

Denis O’Brien responded on July 20th. He disputed my recollection of our meeting at which we discussed his change of domicile to Portugal. “Your version of our conversation at a meeting in my office differs disturbingly from my recollection of that meeting,” he wrote. Referring to my intention to “revisit” the findings of the tribunal, he said that was my prerogative. Then he wrote: “I did not make any payment to Michael Lowry” and he expressed the hope I would carefully review the balance of the evidence. He declined my invitation to do a TV interview and ended with his good wishes.

In that letter he made comments on how he thought the controller of a newspaper group should act and I hope to return to that.

It appears that Browne is going to publish this second letter as well:

I am arranging for the full text of the correspondence to be published on the politico.iewebsite.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...321714191.html

[Dr. FIVE]

Have newstalk covered this? Not in the papers thread despite Tom McGurk covering it last night.

[Saoirse go Deo]

I have quite a lot of admiration for VinB for standing up to this bully boy, many other journalists would, and probably have, bowed to his intimidation.

[musashi]

I have quite a lot of admiration for VinB for standing up to this bully boy, many other journalists would, and probably have, bowed to his intimidation.

There is no other journalist in the country with the sac to do what vincenzo is doing.

[DCon]

There is no other journalist in the country with the sac to do what vincenzo is doing.

Especially as a large % of the rest are on Dinny's payroll

[Baron von Biffo]

There is no other journalist in the country with the sac to do what vincenzo is doing.

A journalist must be doing something right when the Taoiseach is terrified of him.

[musashi]

O'B will never back it up by suing. It would create a PR s***storm and galvanize public opinion against him. Also I do believe v would step up if it ever went to trial and defend himself.
O'B is goosed.

[PaddyJoe]

Vinny has a go at Dinny in Wednesday's Irish Times over media ownership.