Phil Hogan receives apologies and damages for defamation

The EU agriculture and rural development commissioner, Phil Hogan, has received an apology, undisclosed damages, and costs under settlements of his separate High Court actions alleging defamation against two media organisations.

A former government minister, Mr Hogan alleged articles by the Irish Daily Mailand comments broadcast on TV3 concerning representations made by him as a Fine Gael TD to a local authority wrongly suggested he was prejudiced against the Travelling community.

He was in court yesterday to hear the apologies read by counsel for both media organisations.