Sunday World apologises to woman who sued over Northern Bank story

THE Sunday World has apologised before the High Court to a woman who sued it for libel over articles related to the laundering of the proceeds of the IRA’s £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery in 2004.

The apology, in which the newspaper said it acknowledged Kathryn Nelson “is a person of the highest integrity” was read yesterday as part of a settlement of the action by Ms Nelson who is also to receive an undisclosed sum.

The settlement was reached just after 5pm after the jury had been out for more than an hour considering their verdict.

The jury was then called in to be informed the case had settled.

Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne said this was “most unusual” and the first time in her experience a settlement of a case had happened while the jury was deliberating.

As part of the settlement, Eoin McCullough SC, for the Sunday World read an apology to the court.

It stated: “The Sunday World published an article on its front page in February 2005 concerning the laundering of the proceeds of the Northern Bank robbery in which the Provisional IRA had stolen £26.5m.

“Reference was made in the article to Kathryn Nelson and the activities of other individuals who had travelled to Sofia in Bulgaria. It was suggested the purpose of the trip was to disperse the proceeds of the robbery. We wish to make it abundantly clear Ms Nelson had no involvement in any criminal or unlawful activity.

“We wish to acknowledge Ms Nelson is a person of the highest integrity. We unreservedly apologise for any suggestion to the contrary contained in the article.”

Ms Nelson, 61, of Kyleeva, Huginstown, Co Kilkenny, had sued over articles published on February 27, 2005.

The Sunday World had denied libel and denied the articles would give the average reader the impression Ms Nelson was involved in “cleaning” the proceeds of the Northern Bank heist.