Monica Leech libel action against newspaper is dismissed by Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal has ruled the “interests of justice” warrant the dismissal of libel proceedings by communications consultant Monica Leech over an article published in the Sunday Independent 12 years ago.

The case related to a front page article of January 30, 2005, concerning a burglary at Ms Leech’s home some months earlier. Ms Leech’s proceedings were taken against Independent Newspapers Ltd, publisher of the Sunday Independent.

It denied libel and its defence included pleas of qualified privilege and public interest justification.