Cullen's libel case against RTÉ to proceed

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen is proceeding with his libel action against RTÉ, he confirmed yesterday.

On Tuesday the station settled an action taken by Waterford-based public relations consultant Monica Leech, agreeing to pay her €250,000 plus her legal costs.

RTÉ also issued a public apology to Ms Leech over remarks that were broadcast on Radio One's Liveline programme in December 2004. The remarks incorrectly suggested an adulterous relationship between Mr Cullen and Ms Leech, who had acted as a communications consultant to Mr Cullen in two ministries.

Asked if Mr Cullen was proceeding with his libel action against the station in the light of its admission of fault and apology yesterday, a spokesman for the Minister said his action was still "there against RTÉ and is going through procedures".

The controversy which led to RTÉ broadcasting the remarks of which Mr Cullen and Ms Leech complained began in 2001 when Ms Leech was appointed as a regional information co-ordinator for the Office of Public Works (OPW) in Waterford.

The appointment was on the recommendation of Mr Cullen who was then a minister of state with responsibility for the OPW. She was paid €23,610.

After the general election in 2002, Mr Cullen was appointed minister for the environment and Ms Leech was again hired, this time for 12 days a month, and earned €303,000 from the department over two years and three months.

An inquiry requested by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and conducted by former Revenue Commissioners chairman Dermot Quigley cleared Mr Cullen of any wrongdoing.

However, Mr Quigley noted that the contract awarded to Ms Leech was above the threshold at which an EU procurement process should have been triggered. Mr Quigley also said the arrangement could lead to a perception of impropriety.

In the apology which was read out in court on Tuesday, RTÉ said comments were made during the course of a discussion on Liveline on December 16th, 2004, which related to the well-known communications consultant.

"RTÉ accepts that these allegations were simply untrue and that Mrs Leech was gravely wronged by them," the apology stated.