Defamatory tweet may cost artist up to €15k

A Kerry man has been awarded damages in the Circuit Civil Court against well-known artist Kevin Sharkey over “highly defamatory” comments he wrote on his Twitter account.

Quantity surveyor Garrett O’Mahony, of Gortnadallagh, Kenmare, Co Kerry, claimed the artist had called him a racist.

Mr Sharkey did not appear in court yesterday, nor was he legally represented.