Walsh seeks access to newspaper documents

X Factor judge Louis Walsh is seeking access to documents to support his claim The Sun newspaper allegedly offered to pay a man if he agreed to make what later turned out to be a false sexual assault accusation against the showbiz manager, the High Court heard yesterday.

The documents, it is also claimed, will show The Sun paid €700 to Leonard Watters and promised to make more payments to him before a journalist accompanied him to a Garda station where he made his false complaint against Mr Walsh, said Jim O’Callaghan, counsel for Mr Walsh.

“The Sun directed the operation to take out Louis Walsh as a public person,” said Mr O’Callaghan.