FORMER MINISTER of state Frank Fahey has received an apology at the High Court arising from an article published in the Irish Independentin which an untrue statement was made about his property interests.
Mr Fahey had sued the newspaper and the author of the article, Tom Lyons, for libel.
In the apology read to the court yesterday, it was stated the paper published an article on April 18th, 2006, in which it was stated Mr Fahey, then minister of state at the Department of Justice, had failed to declare and register an interest in property held by him in the US.
The article also alleged Mr Fahey had thereby failed to comply with his obligations under the Standards in Public Office Act, 2001.
It further alleged Mr Fahey had denied he had an interest in the property.
The newspaper and Tom Lyons acknowledged these statements were untrue and caused Mr Fahey great distress, the apology said. The defendants also apologised to Mr Fahey, the court heard.
The case had been due for hearing before Mr Justice Eamon de Valera and a jury yesterday. However, the court heard it had been settled and after the apology was read, the case was struck out.
In a statement Mr Fahey welcomed the apology and the settlement of the action with damages and costs. “I am glad this matter is now closed. It has been a distressing time for me and my family. I am very satisfied with the outcome of this case,” he said.