Ex-parachute instructor to get defamation compensation

A former chief parachute instructor has been given a High Court apology and is to be paid compensation over defamatory material circulated about him by the Irish Aviation Authority.

Paul McMahon, former chief instructor with the Irish Parachute Club, sued the authority over a February 2013 letter and an August 2014 report which contained the false allegations.

The case opened on Thursday before a judge and jury who heard the authority had accepted it defamed him in the 2014 report but was fighting the case on the basis that it was published without malice.

Following talks yesterday, Declan Doyle, counsel for Mr McMahon, of Mount Lucas, Daingean, Co Offaly, said the case had been settled on terms which would be handed into court and which would become a rule of court. The settlement also include an apology.

Oisin Quinn, counsel for the authority, read the apology which stated the authority unjustifiably suspended Mr McMahon on February 19, 2013.

Later that month, it published a letter containing defamatory allegations and later published the report with the defamatory allegations, he said. All the allegations were being withdrawn and the authority apologised to Mr McMahon unreservedly for the distress and damage caused to him, he said.

It was also agreed to pay him compensation and all legal fees, Mr Quinn said.