Motorcycle parts dealer settles action with Bebo

A MOTORCYCLE parts dealer has settled a High Court action against social networking site Bebo for allegedly allowing his name to be used on a website to post defamatory comments about a biking champion killed in a racing accident.

Derek Traynor, who operates a web-based spare parts and accessories business, claims Bebo wrongfully allowed defamatory comments to be published on a site dedicated to the Dublin man, Martin Finnegan, who died at the Tandragee 100 race meeting in Armagh in May 2008. The comments were allegedly posted for eight days almost immediately after his death.

Mr Traynor, Clonross, Drumree, Meath, claims the comments, posted by somebody using his name, meant that he took pleasure in the death of Mr Finnegan using highly derogatory language about somebody who died in tragic circumstances.