A BARRISTER HAS commenced defamation proceedings against the Minister for Health Simon Harris and Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone following tweets from the politicians after the lawyer had participated in an RTE radio programme.

The actions have brought by Benedict Ó Floinn BL who claims he was defamed in the tweets after he participated in a panel discussion on the forthcoming Eighth Amendment referendum on the RTE radio show Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra.’

During the course of the programme, broadcast on 31 March last, Mr Ó Floinn addressed legal issues relevant to the referendum.

Mr Ó Floinn claims that shortly after the broadcast the politicians tweeted comments that were defamatory, disparaging and damaging to his professional reputation.

He claims that comments associated with the politician’s tweets formed the basis of a number of media articles that have aggravated the damage he says he has suffered.

Efforts to resolve the matter with the minister and the senator were not successful and Mr Ó Floinn has issued proceedings against both seeking damages for alleged defamation.

He also seeks orders directing that the tweets at the centre of the dispute be taken down.

The actions were lodged with the High Court earlier this week.