`Independent' action is settled

A libel action against the Sunday Independent in which Bishop Eamonn Casey was expected to give evidence has been settled, the…

A libel action against the Sunday Independent in which Bishop Eamonn Casey was expected to give evidence has been settled, the High Court was told yesterday.

The proceedings were taken by author Gordon Thomas arising out an article in the Sunday Independent on April 25th, 1993. The report referred to an article in the same newspaper two weeks earlier relating to Dr Casey in Mexico.

Last February, the High Court was told Dr Casey had expressed his willingness to come to Ireland to give evidence in the libel action. At the time, Independent Newspapers had brought a motion before the court seeking to have evidence taken on commission from the bishop in Britain after it was indicated he would not come to Dublin for the hearing.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Justice Peter Kelly was told the case, which had been specially fixed for hearing next Tuesday, had been settled. Mr Niall Fitzgibbon said it could be struck out with no further order.