“The Ditch news website secures funding of €1 million over 5 years from backer Web Summit, Editor responds to accusations of political bias”

The Ditch news website has secured approximately €1 million in funding from its primary backer, according to the website’s editor, Eoghan McNeill. Aside from voluntary donations and financial support from Web Summit, the website has no other funding sources. Web Summit, owned 81% by entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave, generated a profit of €3.8 million after tax last year on a turnover of €31.8 million. In response to recent criticisms in the Dáil about The Ditch being “a political organisation,” McNeill clarified that the website has no links with the Moscow regime—dispelling previous concerns about founder Chay Bowes’ views on the war in Ukraine. Despite McNeill’s left-wing views, he denied that The Ditch was anti-government or anti-Micheál Martin. Rather, the website is anti right-wing. The Ditch, which is a member of the Press Council, is subject to the jurisdiction of the Press Ombudsman.