Denis O'Brien appeal over €823,500 defamation award struck out

The businessman and his spokesman had challenged a jury award over a press release found to have defamed two solicitors

Denis O'Brien abandons appeal over €823,500 defamation award to Belfast lawyers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Denis O'Brien's appeal against a High Court jury award of €823,500 to two lawyers he was found to have defamed in a 2016 press release has been struck out.

Last November, the jury found Mr O'Brien and his long-time spokesman, James Morrissey, had defamed Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth through a statement that implied the Belfast-based solicitors acted for the IRA.