A private investigator has settled his libel action against a Garda sergeant, the Garda Commissioner and the State over an internal Garda memo which, the court was told yesterday, had falsely stated that the investigator and his companies were linked to the Provisional IRA.
The terms of settlement of the action brought by Mr William G Flynn included an apology, read out on behalf of the defendants for the content of an internal Garda memo relating to Mr Flynn and his companies. The memo was addressed to Supt Lennon, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and circulated to Garda members in Co Donegal in February 1997.
The libel proceedings by Mr Flynn, of Rathcore, Enfield, Co Meath, who runs Zimmerman and Company International Ltd, which is engaged in private investigative work on behalf of private clients, were due to be heard yesterday but, after talks between the sides, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne was told the case had been settled. Martin Giblin SC, for Mr Flynn, said the parties had resolved their differences and the court could strike out the proceedings with no order.
Paul Burns SC, defending, read an apology on behalf of his clients which stated: "The defendants acknowledge that a report dated February 12th, 1997, contained false and inaccurate information and that, in particular, it was untrue to suggest that Mr Flynn or companies with which he was or is associated were connected to or fronts for the Provisional IRA.
The defendants apologise to Mr Flynn and his family for any hurt caused by the circulation of this inaccurate document."