The Irish Red Cross was given permission to sue Google yesterday in the Irish High Court over comments by an anonymous blogger that were damaging to the organization.

Justice Brian McGovern  gave permission to the Red Cross  to have Google Incorporated, California, US, named as the defendant in the action.

The Red Cross stated that Google Ireland, which was the original defendant, advised  them the blog was controlled by its parent company. Yesterday’s decision means the organization may serve the parent company in California.

The blogger claimed that $200,000 was collected for the Asian Tsunami relief in early 2005 but was never sent and was in an undisclosed bank account until 2008. He claimed the money was then transferred and acknowledged after an internal inquiry and the matter covered up.

The Red Cross claims the blogger’s comments were distorted and very damaging to them.

The Irish Red Cross said it would continue to try to identify the actual blogger or bloggers. They said the action against Google was being taken to force them to identify the person who was posting the material

“Once we have identified the blogger's, they can speak for themselves, and they will be given every opportunity to do so, and to justify their actions."