March 7, 2012 -- Judge in Ireland says Facebook comments akin to writing in a newspaper

A WOMAN who wrote comments on a Facebook page about an alleged assault
was told her actions had 'fatally compromised' the assault case which
was subsequently dismissed.

Judge Mary Devins told last week's sitting of Ballina District Court
that in her view writing messages on Facebook was akin to writing in
newspapers.

She made her ruling after hearing evidence from Maureen O'Malley from
Westport, who explained that she posted two messages on Facebook about
an alleged assault by the CEO of a Ballina laboratory against an
animal rights protester.

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