Accountant settle case with Tribune

A chartered accountant and son of the former Supreme Court judge Hugh O'Flaherty was given "substantial damges" after settlement was reached in the High Court today in a libel action he took against The Sunday Tribune newspaper.

Mr Hugh O'Flaherty (aged 39) of Park Close, Gilford Road, Sandymount, Dublin, took the action arising from the publication of an article in the newspaper of November 10, 2002.

When the hearing resumed on its second day today before Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne and a jury, Mr O' Flaherty's counsel Mr Paul O'Higgins SC said the matter had been settled and terms agreed between the parties.

Counsel for Tribune Newspapers plc Mr Eoin Mc Cullough SC read a statement to the jury, which said:"On November 10, 2002, The Sunday Tribune published an article entitled 'Desmond calls time on former O'Flaherty firm.'

"The Sunday Tribune now acknowledges that Hugh O'Flaherty at no time controlled or directed the company in question, First Universal Technology Ltd, and that he had nothing whatsoever to do

with the financial collapse of the company.

"The Sunday Tribune apologises to Mr O' Flaherty for the distress and embarrassment caused to him and to his family by the article."

In a statement after the settlement Mr O' Flaherty said: "I would like to thank my solicitor, Donal Taaffe, counsel Paul O'Higgins, Brian O'Moore, Garret Cooney and Oisín Quinn, and the other members of my legal team for having represented me so well throughout and for having done

such an excellent job, which has culiminated in the just conclusion of my case seen today.

"Almost four years ago The Sunday Tribune wrote an article suggesting that I was involved in the financial collapse of a company. These suggestions were and remain entirely untrue and inaccurate.

"This article caused great upset to me and to my family, which upset has come to an

end today by their payment to me of substantial damages for the injury to my good name and reputation, by their payment of all my legal costs and by their unconditional apology, which was precisely what I had sought from the outset.

"I firmly believe that the only reason that the article was published was because of who my father is. I am particularly satisfied that the apology that was read out in court today was also directed to my family."