A High Court judge has ordered that documents being sought by a lawyer be produced in an attempt to discover who is behind a controversial website that invites people to "rate" their lawyers and on which allegedly defamatory messages have been posted.
The order was made yesterday by Mr Justice Michael Hanna in proceedings by Dublin-based barrister Jayne Maguire, who claims John Gill, Drumline, Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare, posted defamatory statements about her "of the most offensive and damaging nature both personally and professionally" on the site, at www.rateyoursolicitor.com
Mr Gill denies any involvement with the website. He has also alleged that Ms Maguire told him a colleague had posted the material complained of.
The High Court previously ordered that defamatory material be removed from the website.
A number of people who claim they have been mistreated by legal professionals protested outside the Four Courts. They later attended the hearing.
Paul O'Higgins, for Ms Maguire, said that when notice of the court order of September 13th was served, an American internet service provider that hosts the website suspended the rateyoursolicitor website name.
Matters appeared to have eased but then material constituting "the grossest possible contempt of court" was posted last Wednesday. It effectively threatened that if Ms Maguire continued with her action, the order restraining the posting of offensive material would be ignored.