Material relating to a defamation case taken by President Mary Robinson (MR) against Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd., following the appearance of a number of articles in various newspapers of the group which had incorrectly implied MR had received a new car over £40,000 more expensive than its predecessor and that of other government ministers, and which resulted with the Independent Newspapers Ltd. publishing a front page apology, donating a substantial figure to various charities chosen by MR, and covering her legal costs. It includes briefing notes and minutes of meeting between Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, Bride Rosney (BR), Special Adviser to the President with responsibility for media relations, and Vincent Doyle, Editor of The Irish Independent, 26/06/1994; correspondence between Simon McCormick, Eugene F Collins Solicitors [for MR] and Doyle, 28/06/1994; correspondence between McCormick, Frank Clarke, SC [Senior Counsel] and John Trainor, BL [Barrister at Law], 28/06-06/07/1994 including draft statement of claim; correspondence between McCormick and McCann FitzGerald solicitors [for Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd], 04/07/1994; memo between BR and MR giving update and summarising case including importance of highlighting cumulative defamation across numerous successive articles, 06/07/1994; memo from BR to PR re meeting she had with McCormack and Trainor on 6th July, and meeting between BR, McCormack, Trainor, Clarke, MR and Nick Robinson on 11th July; photocopy of letter from McCormick to BR with copy of statement of claim settled by Frank Clarke, which was to be filed in the Central Office of the High Court, 13/07/1994; correspondence and memos between PR, BR, McCormick and Ann [Lane, Personal Assistant to the President] in relation to draft apology from Independent Newspaper which was to be published, with handwritten amendments, and later draft from McCann FitzGerald solicitors, 15-28/07/1994; memo from BR to PR listing MR's chosen charities and amounts to be donated by Independent Newspapers, 15/08/1994; photocopies of various newspaper articles in question, and cutting with apology, 15/06-[29/07]/1994.

[Archivist's Note: This was the first time that a Head of State had taken legal proceedings while in office.]

Ref: P143/4/8/1/5

Material relating to press coverage of President Mary Robinson (MR), 1994, including memo in relation to issues with how media invitations were being issued to State dinner for President of Austria, 04/05/1994; typed summary of article "The Fearless President", by Hannelore Hippe, in "Emma" magazine, May/June 1994; typed article "An Habitual Winner", by Catherine Mayer, Focus Magazine, 16/05/1994; fax of article written in Flemish for Belgian newspaper "De Morgan" on rumours MR was being considered as successor for Delors as President of European Commission, (despite and with no reference to her own denial) with summary in English, 25/05/1994; draft of article by MR on Gandhi for the special issue of "Horizon" to be published on the 125th anniversary of his birth (02/10/1994) 19/10-03/11/1994; handwritten note from Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN to Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President, which accompanied a tape of CNN interview, 26/10/1994.

Ref: P143/4/8/1/6

Press cuttings service - October 1990 (photocopies)

Ref: P143/4/8/2/1/2

Press cuttings service - November 1990

Ref: P143/4/8/2/1/3

Press cutting service cuttings April 1991

Ref: P143/4/8/2/2/4

Press cutting service cuttings May 1991

Ref: P143/4/8/2/2/5

Press cutting service cuttings October 1991 including coverage of visit to United States of America.

Ref: P143/4/8/2/2/10

Press cutting service cuttings November 1991.

Ref: P143/4/8/2/2/11

Loose cuttings 1991, including from International press. Includes cuttings relating to President Mary Robinson's nominees to Council of State.

Ref: P143/4/8/2/2/13

Press cutting service cuttings October 1992 including in relation to President Mary Robinson's visit to Somalia, and Australia.

Ref: P143/4/8/2/3/10