A LIBEL action taken by the broadcaster, Ms Marian Finucane, against the Sunday Independent has been settled, the High Court was told yesterday. Ms Finucane (46), sued over two articles in the newspaper relating to her purchase of one of the Mespil Road flats in Dublin.
The hearing opened before Mr Justice Kinlen and a jury on Tuesday. It resumed yesterday with legal argument in the absence of the jury. There was then an adjournment and following discussions between lawyers for the sides, the settlement was announced shortly before lunchtime.
Mr Adrian Hardiman SC, for Ms Finucane, said one of the terms of the settlement was that the newspaper would publish a statement on Sunday next.
Mr Kevin Feeney SC, for the defence, then read the statement, which stated that on May 16th, 1993, the newspaper published articles about the sale of Mespil flats and the purchase of one of them by Ms Finucane.
It went on "We acknowledge that Marian Finucane in purchasing the flat did not act with any impropriety but behaved with openness and probity in all aspects of the transaction. We withdraw the suggestions to the contrary and offer our sincere apologies to Ms Finucane and her family.