High Court jury finds Denis O’Brien defamed two solicitors in press release

Denis O’Brien made the statement in response to a report on media ownership in Ireland. File photo: Niall Carson/PA

Denis O’Brien defamed two lawyers in a 2016 press release that implied they acted for the IRA, a High Court jury has found.

Mr O’Brien and his spokesman James Morrissey must pay solicitors Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth €411,750 each to compensate the damage done to their reputations arising from the defamation. The jury awarded general and aggravated damages.