Partner settles defamation against BBC

The partner of murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy has settled his High Court claim for defamation against the BBC.

Ryan Casey, 27, sued the organisation following the broadcast of an episode of the live political programme The View on 30 November 2023.

The programme was broadcast just under two weeks after Mr Casey had delivered a victim impact statement at the sentence hearing of Jozef Puska for the murder of Ms Murphy.

Ashling Murphy, 23, was murdered in January 2022 as she jogged on the banks of the Grand Canal near Tullamore, County Offaly.

It is understood Mr Casey has received substantial damages as well as a contribution towards his costs amounting to a six figure sum.

In a statement read to the court on Thursday, the BBC said it stood by the journalism involved in the episode in question, which it said “debated serious issues of public interest”, and acknowledged Mr Casey’s personal tragedy.

“The BBC is however happy to clarify that it does not consider Ryan Casey to be a criminal or a racist, or someone guilty of or attempting to incite hatred, or someone seeking to pose as a hero of the far right through his victim impact statement,” the statement continued.

The BBC’s The View programme was broadcast in November 2023, after Puska was sentenced to life for the murder of Ms Murphy.

A panel discussion centred on some of Ryan Casey’s words in his victim impact statement, which had been read to the court.

He said that Puska was “insignificant, the lowest of the low, waste of life” who had no idea what he had done to the Murphy family.

“Ireland has officially lost its innocence that a crime of this magnitude can be done in daylight,” it said.

“Our country is heading down a very dangerous path and we will not be the last family.”

The BBC wrote that its statement “clarifies any unintentional inferences that could have been drawn from the broadcast and has enabled the BBC and Ryan Casey to resolve this matter amicably.”

In a statement, Mr Casey said the settlement marked the “end of a long and difficult chapter of frustration and censorship”.

He said the case was never about him, but was about truth, fairness and decency.

Mr Casey said he took the legal action against the BBC “not solely out of anger, but out of a need for accountability and dignity for Ashling, for [himself], [their] families and for all victims, who deserve to have their voices heard without such harsh criticism or judgement”.

He said he hoped this “serves as a reminder to all media organisations of the high level of responsibility that comes with running such public platforms”.

Mr Casey added that he was “finally free” to use his voice again and to “advocate for the changes we desperately require in this country, for the increased safety measures we so clearly need, and for a society that listens to its people, free of gaslighting, blacklisting or censorship”.