Travellers sue over ‘body back home in a van’ story
Kathleen Hegarty and her brothers James Quilligan and Dan Quilligan yesterday sued Sunday Newspapers Ltd, publishers of the Sunday World at Limerick Circuit Court for defamation.
The case arose out of a story published in the Sunday World on May 1, 2011 which dealt with events in Cologne following the sudden death of Kathleen Hegarty’s husband Patrick Hegarty, 37.
He was with up to 250 Travellers from the Co Limerick town who travelled to Cologne for a reunion over the Easter period that year.
The report in the Sunday World claimed that an effort had been made to bring Mr Hegarty’s body home in the back of a van and that the death had sparked drink-fuelled incidents which resulted in action by the police.
Kathleen Hegarty, Patrick’s widow, in evidence, said the article left her embarrassed and ashamed.
She said: “I knew my husband would have a respectable, high-class funeral.”
She felt low in herself and for her husband that people would think she would allow his body to be brought home in the back of a van.
In fact, a Limerick undertaker had been engaged to look after the arrangements and the remains were flown back to Ireland.
James Quilligan felt very upset at the van claim as it was the Traveller tradition that a family looks after the funeral of their own.
Cross-examined by Ronan Lupton, barrister for Sunday Newspapers Ltd, he agreed his name did not appear in the article and there was no reference to him about bringing a body home in a van or being involved in any incidents in Cologne.
In evidence, Dan Quilligan agreed his name did not appear in the article and he was not mentioned in relation to a van being used to bring his brother-in-law’s body home
Sunday World reporter, Eamon Dillon said he did not write the heading which referred to a ‘boozing tragedy’
Judge O’Donohue said he will give his ruling toady.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
