COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT Monica Leech said last night a record €1.872 million award for damages in her libel trial against Independent Newspapers meant she had been “absolutely and truly vindicated”.
A High Court jury delivered a majority verdict that a series of articles in the Evening Herald in 2004 falsely suggested Ms Leech had an affair with then minister for the environment Martin Cullen.
Ms Leech’s eyes flickered briefly as the amount of damages was read out in the warm courtroom but her serious expression did not change.
However, standing outside the Four Courts with her husband, John, afterwards, Ms Leech said she felt “very happy” to have had her day in court. “I have been so absolutely and truly vindicated.”
She said she believed in the freedom of the press but that Independent Newspapers had “behaved absolutely disgracefully” and there had been a clear abuse of press freedom.
“I want the people of Ireland to know how the Independent Media go about their business. They made up a story and for 4½ years they lied to the good people of Ireland about me,” she said. “They took my reputation. They destroyed my business, and it has had a devastating effect on me and my family.”
Ms Leech said she wanted to pay tribute “to the men who are in my life, my husband John and my two boys”.
Asked by a reporter if she had been taken aback by the size of the award for damages, Ms Leech said: “I certainly was taken aback by the damages that were done to me for the last 4½ years.”
She said the fact that the award was a record amount meant the jury understood clearly that what Independent Newspapers had done “was simply wrong and was not decent”.
Ms Leech said she had got her good name back “after a long battle”. Independent Newspapers had not apologised, she said.
A brief statement was issued on behalf of Independent Newspapers last night, which said the award would be appealed.
“We believe this award is totally disproportionate. We will of course be appealing the Award to the Supreme Court,” it said.
“This is yet another example of the pressing need for a fundamental review of our defamation laws.”
Ms Leech was also critical of some politicians she described as “cowardly individuals”.
“I also want to point out that there were uninformed politicians at the time that were actually making political collateral out of this,” she said.
“Cowardly individuals who used the protection of Leinster House to make their comments and were uninformed in the comments and thought so little of my democratic right to my good name,” she said.
