Independent News & Media prevailed yesterday against Denis O'Brien, the 25 per cent shareholder it has dubbed a dissident investor, as the Irish media group came out fighting at a marathon annual meeting.

Mr O'Brien, who did not attend the three-hour meeting, secured protest votes of up to 37.3 per cent against the re-election of various directors, which he opposed on the grounds of their long tenure or the fact they earned fees beyond the basic €50,000 ($77,779) stipend.