Inaccurate media coverage surrounding the death of Liam Lawlor should not be used as an excuse to impose "draconian restrictions" on the freedom of the press, the National Union of Journalists has said.
Members of the union's Irish delegate conference, which met in Cork at the weekend, unanimously adopted a motion condemning "inaccurate and sensational coverage by some Irish and UK newspapers" of the death of Mr Lawlor.
The motion also condemned "the disregard for the basic principles of responsible journalism".
However, it said, "the NUJ will rigorously resist attempts to exploit this case by those who wish to impose draconian restrictions through a Government-appointed press council and repressive privacy laws."
Séamus Martin, Dublin Branch, who was among the motion's proposers, said commercial considerations and pursuit of market share by newspapers should not force a lowering of editorial standards.
NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley said the vast majority of journalists adhered to the NUJ Code of Conduct and that those in favour of draconian restrictions on the media should not be allowed to hijack the death of Mr Lawlor for their own end.