Hook abandons defamation case against Tribune Newspapers

George Hook, the broadcaster and television rugby pundit, has abandoned his claim for defamation of character against Tribune Newspapers Plc.

Barrister Conor Feeney told Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Matthew Deery, that the company was now in receivership and his client felt it would be pointless pursuing the issue.

Judge Deery struck out the proceedings which means that Hook will now have to pay his own legal costs although no mention was made of this in court.

The 69-year-old presenter of Newstalk’s ‘The Right Hook’ had issued defamation proceedings against Tribune Newspapers in relation to an article that appeared in the Sunday Tribune in October last year.

Hook, of Foxrock Park, Foxrock, Dublin 18, had in March last also sought to join journalist Eithni Tynan, Kilbaha, Kilrush, Co Clare, as a co-defendant to the proceedings on the grounds she was the author of the alleged defamatory article.

Less than a month later he abandoned his application to join Ms Tynan because of what he described as an orchestrated campaign against him by his colleagues in the media. His application was struck out by the Dublin County Registrar, Susan Ryan.

Mr Feeney, counsel for Hook, had earlier told the County Registrar that the Receiver appointed to Tribune Newspapers had failed to enter any defence to his claim and judgment for €38,000 in default of defence was granted to Hook in April last against Tribune Newspapers.

At that time Mr Feeney told Ms Ryan that the Receiver had shown little interest in dealing with Mr Hook’s claim. He said the Receiver initially engaged with Mr Hook’s solicitors and had requested particulars of his allegations.

Mr Feeney said that since then there had been no response to letters to the Receiver’s solicitors who had stated they were not opposing Mr Hook’s application for judgment.