Leech settles newspaper libel case for €125k

FORMER government communications consultant Monica Leech has secured an apology and a final settlement figure believed to be in the region of €125,000 including costs as part of a libel action settlement against Associated Newspapers — publishers of the Irish Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail.

The High Court action was brought against Associated Newspapers and journalist Frank Connolly.

Ms Leech was described in the proceedings as a self-employed communications consultant, wife and mother with an address at Otteran Place, South Parade, Waterford.

The matter was listed for a jury trial in the High Court but Paul O’Higgins SC for Ms Leech told the presiding judge Mr Justice de Valera that the matter had been settled on terms agreed between the parties.

Counsel for Associated Newspapers Cian Ferriter BL, read out the following apology in court: “In November and December 2004 we published a number of articles suggesting that Monica Leech was having an extra-marital affair with Minister Martin Cullen.

“This allegation was entirely false. The suggestion that Mrs Leech had secured valuable contracts on the basis of such an affair was equally false.

“We apologise sincerely to Mrs Leech and her family for the pain and distress caused to them and have agreed to pay a sum of money in compensation and to discharge her legal costs.”

In the statement of claim it was revealed that Ms Leech, trading as Monica Leech Communications, was granted a six-month contract as a consultant to the Department of the Environment and Local Government in July 2002 at a rate of €650 per day having submitted a tender at that rate.

It was further stated that in November to December 2004 and in the early months of 2005 Ms Leech was the subject of prominent and sustained media coverage by the defendants and by numerous other media organs.

In 2003 her company was granted a two-year contract as consultant to the Department of the Environment at a rate of €800 per day.

Outside the court Ms Leech said she was delighted to have such a successful outcome to the case.

“It has been a long time coming but the truth will out in the end and I am delighted to be standing here victorious today,” she said.