THE chairwoman of a health services ginger group denied in the High Court in Belfast yesterday that she had conducted a smear campaign against a civil servant.
Ms Dorothy Hulme, of the Mourne Hospital Steering Group, said it was untrue that she "had it in" for Mr Brendan Cunningham, chief executive of the Southern Health and Social Services Board.
Ms Hulme, a bank official, from Warrenpoint, is defending a libel action brought by Mr Cunningham, of Leitrim Road, Kilkeel.
The libel case revolves around two letters written by Ms Hulme following the decision to close Mourne Hospital, which the steering group had opposed.
The first letter stated the closure could have been influenced by an unnamed board member with a financial interest in the decision.
The second claimed Mr Cunningham - at that time the board's director of finance - had strenuously advanced the hospital's closure and added: "It is believed he has recently sold lands at Newry Road for a nursing home and that many of the folk in the hospital will be transferred to this home."
Ms Hulme told the court she had no feelings of spite or hatred towards Mr Cunningham.
She said: "When I wrote the first letter the steering group thought there was a potential for conflict of interest. He was the owner of the land and a senior member of the board making decisions.
"The group never made allegations of impropriety against Mr Cunningham and therefore there is nothing to apologise for."
Ms Hulme said the group's perception was that Mr Cunningham was enthusiastic about closing the hospital, and after it became apparent he had outline planning permission for a nursing home it was decided to write to the Southern Health and Social Services Council, a "watchdog" body.
The case continues.