Doyle settles libel action for €80,000

Seán McCárthaigh

Both parties agreed terms at the start of the third day of the hearing before the High Court president, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan. Although details of the settlement were not disclosed in court, lawyers for the Sunday Independent said it was agreed that an apology will be published by the newspaper tomorrow.

However, it is believed that Mr Doyle, 61, of Sherlockstown Lodge, Sallins, Co Kildare, will receive a payment of about 80,000 out of which he will have to pay his own legal costs estimated at about 25,000. Before the case came to trial, it is understood the newspaper offered Mr Doyle 50,000 but he sought 150,000.

The veterinary surgeon, who was Ireland’s rugby coach between 1984 and 1987, initiated the legal action following the publication of an article by rugby journalist Brendan Fanning on February 13, 2000.

It stated: “If you want to look at track records, then Mick Doyle, who was Ireland’s most successful coach of that period, couldn’t manage to break even. And within two seasons of winning a Triple Crown in 1985, he had become ostracised by the decision-making core among the players. Nobody was making a realistic case for him to stay.”

Mr Doyle claimed the statement was wrong, although the Sunday Independent had pleaded the words were true in substance and fair comment on a matter of public interest. A number of former international rugby players were lined up to give evidence including Des Fitzgerald, Paul Dean, Ciaran Fitzgerald and Tony Ward, who is also a rugby writer for the newspaper’s sister publication, the Irish Independent.

The large gallery which had gathered in Court No 4 were disappointed that there was no further testimony in the High Court yesterday as the evidence had promised to provide a unique insight into Irish rugby. Outside the court, Mr Doyle said he was happy that his good name had been completely vindicated.

“That piece was totally offensive and very hurtful and totally wrong,” said the former coach. He claimed he hadn’t sued when a similar article about him had been written in the Sunday Independent in 1992 as he was working for the newspaper at that time. Asked about the size of the settlement, he joked: “I didn’t get a brown envelope or an Ansbacher account.” A spokesperson for the Sunday Independent refused to comment.