Garda saw soccer star with gangland suspect, court told

A Garda and an employee of the Sunday World yesterday told the High Court they saw former Premier League star David Speedie in the company of an alleged gangland figure.

They were among four witnesses called by the newspaper as part of its defence of an action by Mr Speedie, who played for clubs including Liverpool and Chelsea, over what he claims were defamatory articles written about him in 2011.

Mr Speedie claims the stories falsely meant he was engaged in criminal activity, was involved in smuggling or transportation of drugs, and had links to gangland crime.