The copyright cases are being taken by Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd, publishers of the Irish Independent and independent.ie, and CCC Nuacht, a court reporting agency. Stock picture

A controversial website at the centre of plagiarism claims is facing three court actions in the coming year.

Two news outlets have issued District Court proceedings against Leo Sherlock, who operates TheLiberal.ie website as a sole trader, for infringement of copyright. High Court proceedings have also been issued by a man wrongly identified as a former IRA member in a photo accompanying an article published by the website.

The National Union of Journalists said it had also written to Mr Sherlock, accusing him of "stealing" the work of journalists and passing it off as his website's own material.

The copyright cases are being taken by Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd, publishers of the Irish Independent and independent.ie, and CCC Nuacht, a court reporting agency.

Both organisations have sued Mr Sherlock (34), of Ardee Road, Collon, Co Louth, under the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, which allows damages of up to €15,000.

Mr Sherlock did not respond when contacted by the Irish Independent yesterday.

Irish Independent