THE PRESS Ombudsman in Ireland, Prof John Horgan, has been called to give evidence at the Leveson inquiry in the UK next Friday.
Judge Brian Leveson, who has been chairing the inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal, has already declared that he is interested in the Irish model – a statutory one – as opposed to the discredited British Press Complaints Commission, the British industry body.
Judge Leveson told the Scottish first minister Alex Salmond that he was “pushing at an open door” as far as recommending that the Irish model be examined as a way forward for the British press.
The Leveson inquiry is currently on module four, which is looking at future press regulation.
Prof Horgan said he did not know what he was going to be asked but confirmed that on a number of occasions his office had been brought up as a satisfactory way of dealing with press complaints.
“I can only presume that they want to find out more about that,” said Prof Horgan.
