RTÉ apologises to man under settlement of defamation case

A man has secured an apology from RTÉ at the High Court under a settlement of his action over alleged defamation in a RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme about the taxi industry. Oluwaseyi “Josh” Okerayi sued RTÉ arising out of the Prime Time Investigates programme broadcast on May 16th, 2011.

On Monday, Oisín Quinn SC, for Mr Okerayi, told Mr Justice Max Barrett the case had settled on terms including an apology to be read on behalf of RTÉ.

Other terms of settlement were confidential and have been implemented and the case could be struck out with no order, counsel said. In the apology, read by Ronan Kennedy SC, for RTÉ, it was stated RTÉ had on May 16th, 2011, broadcast a programme on the taxi industry which featured Mr Okerayi, then of Slane Road, Navan, Co Meath. “This broadcast contained damaging and incorrect suggestions about Mr Okerayi,” it stated. “RTE acknowledges that these were wrong and unreservedly apologises to Mr Okerayi.”