The mayor of Longford town has been ordered to pay €12,500 in damages for slander.
Mr Brian Kane, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, claimed he had been slandered by a Fine Gael member of Longford Town Council and the mayor, Mr Peter Clarke, Dublin Street, Longford, on March 12th, 2000.
Mr Brian Kirby, Tashinney, Co Longford, a senior county hurler, told Longford Circuit Court yesterday he was asked by Mr Clarke that night in a pub about his then landlord, Mr Kane. He said he found Mr Kane all right and had no trouble. According to Mr Kirby, Mr Clarke said he was the only person not to have trouble with him. Mr Kirby told the court Mr Clarke alleged that some of Mr Kane's tenants lived in squalor and paid high rents. He said Mr Clarke claimed Mr Kane was "a dangerous client" and told him not to have anything to do with him.
Under cross-examination by Mr Derry O'Donovan, Mr Kirby said he wished he had never said anything about the incident.
Mr Clarke denied slander. He told Mr Kirby he was delighted he was pleased with Mr Kane as a landlord. He denied saying anything about squalor and rejected all other allegations. Judge Anthony Kennedy accepted Mr Kirby's evidence and awarded Mr Kane costs and €12,500 in damages.