Trad singer settles case over historian's book he claimed made him look 'alcoholic'

A well-known traditional singer who claimed that the cover of a book written by historian Diarmuid Ferriter had depicted him as an alcoholic has settled his claim for damages.

At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday a last-minute settlement was reached between lawyers for Tim Lyons and for Prof Ferriter, and publishers of the book, Irish Academic Press.

Mr Lyons was suing both Prof Ferriter and Irish Academic Press for defamation, and barristers from both sides were ready to proceed with the case. Copies of the book in dispute, A Nation of Extremes — The Pioneers in Twentieth Century Ireland, were to go on show in court and be given to Judge Gerald Keyes to examine.

Mr Lyons, from Cork, and Prof Ferriter were in court with the case ready to be called. However, discussions outside the courtroom resulted in Mr Lyons’ barrister, Peter Cline, informing Judge Keyes that “the time used has been very productive and terms have been agreed”.

The terms of settlement were not disclosed. Mr Cline had earlier told Judge Keyes that the case would take two hours.

In the proceedings, Mr Lyons, with an address at Athenry, Co Galway, had claimed a photo of him with two pints of stout in front of him on the book’s cover depicted him as an alcoholic.

The cover photo shows Mr Lyons with his elbow on a bar with two pints of stout and what appears to be a glass of spirits juxtaposed with a photo of Pioneers at a public event.

Judge Keyes had previously turned down a bid by Prof Ferriter in July 2012 to have the action struck out.

Mr Lyons had previously said in court that the photo “conveys that he is an alcoholic; that he drinks alcohol to excess; is representative of Irish drink culture which is damaging to Irish society; and that he is part of a disreputable part of Irish society”.

Mr Lyons said the photo was used without consent and was a breach of privacy.

However, Prof Ferriter in his affidavit had stated: “I had no input into the design, layout, and assembly of the book cover.”

Yesterday, Mr Cline said Judge Keyes need not make any order, only to adjourn the case to January 12.