Right to jury trial in defamation case confirmed even where case consolidated with related judicial review proceedings

Defamation law – judicial review – Defamation Act 2009 – plaintiff be deprived of his right to jury trial in respect of the defamation action by reason of a case management direction made – plaintiff acquitted of all charges of sexual abuse while working as schoolteacher following three separate criminal trials – plaintiff then sought to be reinstated to his teaching post – judicial review proceedings consolidated with defamation case that senior social worker in charge of the investigation said or implied that the plaintiff was a threat to children attending the school – whether the High Court was entitled to make a case management direction which had the effect of depriving the plaintiff of his right to jury trial in respect of the defamation proceedings – right to jury trial in civil matters – Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Act 1877 – s. 94 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924 – s. 20 of the Courts of Justice 1928 – Delany, The Courts Acts 1924-1997(Dublin, 2000) – mode of trail – High Court has no jurisdiction to dilute the plaintiff’s right to jury trial in respect of this defamation action – plaintiff is entitled to a jury trial in respect of the defamation proceedings – appeal allowed.