Court dismisses Lowry appeal in defamation case

The High Court has this afternoon dismissed an appeal from Independent TD Michael Lowry in a defamation case against journalist Sam Smyth.

The case centred around an article written by the journalist in the Irish Independent and comments he made on TV3.

On the channel's 'Tonight with Vincent Browne' programme, Mr Smyth said that Michael Lowry had been caught "with hand in till".

In defamation proceedings against the journalist, Mr Lowry said it meant or implied he was a thief, a corrupt politician, and unfit to be a TD or Government Minister.

Mr Smyth said the comments were an honest opinion and true in their natural and ordinary meaning.

Mr Lowry was refused summary relief in the Circuit Court under the 2009 Defamation Act over this and an Irish Independent article.

The court found that he had failed to show Mr Smyth had raised no defence to the action, a decision that has been upheld today following an appeal to the High Court President.