FG senator Paudie Coffey dismisses suggestions article was 'part of the rough and tumble of politics'

Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey has dismissed suggestions that a story in a local newspaper was "part of the rough and tumble of politics".

The senator is suing for defamation over the January 2016 newspaper article in the Kilkenny People and has suggested it was the main factor in the loss of his Waterford Dáil seat.

Sen Coffey is suing Iconic Newspapers, publishers of the paper, over comments from Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan describing a proposal to bring part of the Kilkenny administrative area in Waterford city as "daylight robbery".