Cooper-Flynn to begin appeal against RTÉ

Beverley Cooper-Flynn's appeal against her failed libel action is due to begin at the Supreme Court today.

The Mayo Fianna Fáil TD lost her High Court case against RTÉ in March 2001.

It is believed her future political career could rest on the outcome of the court action.

In March 2001, a jury at the High Court found the Mayo TD had not been libelled or had not suffered as a result of an RTÉ broadcast in which a farmer from Co Meath alleged Ms Cooper-Flynn induced him to invest money offshore in order to avoid paying tax.

The jury didn't accept RTÉ had proven James Howard's claim, but they did find she had induced others who testified in court to invest in the scheme and evade tax.

Deputy Cooper-Flynn's appeal to the Supreme Court can only relate to a question of law and she could face an uphill battle to overturn the jury's decision.