Action against `Irish Times' settled

A libel action taken by the writer Francis Stuart against The Irish Times was settled at the High Court yesterday.

Mr Stuart, accompanied by the poet Paul Durcan, the writer Ulick O'Connor and others, was in court for the hearing which was listed for up to four days.

However, when the case was called yesterday morning, Mr Adrian Hardiman SC, for Mr Stuart, told Mr Justice Peter Kelly the matter had been settled.

Counsel said the action related to an allegation in The Irish Times in October 1997 contradicting a statement by Mr Stuart that he had never written or expressed an anti-Semitic statement.

Mr Hardiman said that, as part of the basis of settlement, Mr John Gordon SC, for The Irish Times, would read a statement.

Mr Gordon then read the following statement: "In the edition of The Irish Times of October 22nd, 1997, in a column entitled An Irishman's Diary, certain remarks, based on an earlier television programme, were made which suggested that Francis Stuart was anti-Semitic.

"The Irish Times accepts that Mr Stuart has never expressed anti-Semitism in his writings or otherwise and regrets the publication of an impression to the contrary. The Irish Times has agreed to pay a sum of money in respect of the costs of Mr Stuart's action."

Mr Hardiman said the only order required from the court was to strike out the action. Mr Justice Kelly made that order on consent.