A prisoner who served three years in Cork prison for assaulting a garda has claimed in the High Court that he was defamed by a picture published in the Cork Examiner. It was beside an article which asserted that those housed in a particular wing of the prison were sex offenders.
Finbarr Hill (27), a former sheet metal worker, of Springfield, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, said he was housed in the wing referred to in the newspaper but had never been convicted of any type of sex offence, nor had he been put in protective custody while serving his sentence.
He was shocked to find his picture in the newspaper, he said. It appeared that he was in prison for being a rapist or something of a sexual nature. The newspaper had not offered him an apology or expressed regret but had merely offered a clarification.
The newspaper admits the words complained of were published but denies the plaintiff suffered any injury to his reputation. The paper alleges the plaintiff is a man of worthless reputation and character, having been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault on a garda.
The hearing continues today.