Castle owner’s ex gets damages

The former wife of the owner of Blarney Castle received a public apology and damages at the High Court in London over defamatory allegations published in a blog after she separated from her husband.

A judge heard Nora Colthurst’s marriage had ended after husband Charles started a relationship with the mother of defendant Rachel Myers, whose 2005 blog entry was the subject of the libel action.

Kate Wilson, counsel for Ms Colthurst, told Mr Justice Tugendhat: “The passage complained of by Lady Colthurst started with the words, ‘Oooh, Nora’s out’, then, most unfortunately, referred to the claimant as a ‘psycho’ before going on to say that it was now possible [following the claimant’s departure] to be outside ‘without fearing for your life’.

“The defendant [Rachel Myers] ended the blog post advising any readers who may meet the claimant to ‘run away as far as your legs will carry you’.”

Ms Wilson told the judge: “The fact is that Ms Myers’ allegations are untrue. The claimant was not a danger to anyone, including the defendant, and there was no reason for anyone to avoid contact with her at all costs.

“The claimant could not let such allegations stand, and issued these proceedings to vindicate her reputation.

“She is therefore pleased to be able to inform the court that her claim has now settled, with the defendant paying her damages and costs.

“The defendant is represented here today to apologise and join with the claimant in setting the record straight.”

Giving the background, the barrister said Ms Myers “first published her defamatory allegations at a time when Ms Colthurst, following her separation, had left the family home at Blarney Castle in Co Cork”.

“The marriage had ended after Sir Charles started a relationship with the defendant’s mother.

“The defendant’s blog remained online for many years. It only came to Lady Colthurst’s attention in the summer of 2011 after she carried out a Google search on her name.

“Unsurprisingly, she was very distressed by the defamatory allegations.

“The claimant then discovered that various people had read the blog post over the years and, unfortunately, that it remained sufficiently prominent on the internet, that it was still being read up until it was removed, partially in Sept 2011 and fully in Mar 2012.”

Felicity McMahon, counsel for Ms Myers, told Mr Justice Tugendhat: “Ms Myers first published the blog post when she was 18 years old.

“After she was notified of the claimant’s claim, she took steps to remove her blog from the internet and this was achieved some time afterwards.

“She did not appreciate until this claim was brought how widely her blog had been read or how far her allegations might spread.

“Ms Myers withdraws her allegations unreservedly and apologises to Ms Colthurst for the distress and embarrassment which this matter caused her.”