A retired farmer who is being sued for libel became annoyed one time when an encashment cheque took longer to arrive in 1994 than he was promised, the High Court has been told.
A former administration employee of National Irish Bank, Ms Deirdre Condron, yesterday said she remembered talking to Mr James Howard about that cheque. He was annoyed on the phone and she had written to apologise for the delay.
Ms Condron was giving evidence on the 10th day of Fianna Fail TD Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn's proceedings against RTE; journalist Mr Charlie Bird; and Mr Howard, of Co Louth.
She claims she was libelled in RTE broadcasts in June and July 1998 and that the words used meant she had instigated a scheme intended as a means to evade the lawful payment of tax. The defendants deny libel.
Ms Condron said Ms Cooper-Flynn had been in NIB before Ms Patricia Roche. She thought Ms Roche joined two months after Ms Condron and had left in 1994. Ms Condron said she was responsible for transmitting documents in NIB and would also receive documents from consultants and branches.
She typed for Ms Cooper-Flynn. She would have become familiar with the handwriting of consultants she dealt with, including Ms Cooper-Flynn and Ms Roche.
Asked by Mr Hugh Mohan SC, for Ms Cooper-Flynn, what consultant was dealing with Balbriggan business from 1991 onwards, Ms Condron said it was Ms Roche; Ms Cooper-Flynn was not carrying on any Balbriggan business then.
The hearing before Mr Justice Morris and a jury continues today.