A FORMER mayor of Clare, councillor Patricia McCarthy (Independent) said yesterday she was left “devastated and dumbfounded” by a newspaper article containing false allegations against her over a rezoning issue.
Ms McCarthy was speaking yesterday after the Clare Courier agreed to pay her unspecified damages and her legal costs arising from the article published in May 2009.
At Ennis Circuit Court, counsel for the Clare Courier, Michael O’Se, said the lodgement that had been given into court would be given to Ms McCarthy’s solicitor. Mr O’Se told Judge Frank O’Donnell that the case could be struck out with no order made.
After court, Ms McCarthy said that the damages were to be given to community body Shannon swimming pool and leisure centre, that is paying off a loan for a major refurbishment.
Ms McCarthy declined to disclose the amount of damages involved. “The case was never about the money. It was about my reputation and I am glad that it is over,” she said afterwards.
Publisher of the Clare Courier, Eugene McClafferty, declined to comment yesterday. However, in May of last year, the newspaper published an apology and retraction over the article.