Two newspaper groups have applied to the High Court for discovery of certain documents relating to work carried out by communications consultant Monica Leech for the then minister for the environment, Martin Cullen.
Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd and Associated News-papers Ltd have sought the documents for the forthcoming hearing of Ms Leech's High Court action alleging libel against the newspaper groups.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern was told yesterday that Ms Leech has already made voluntary discovery of all documents relating to her appointment on July 9th, 2002, to the position of consultant in the Department of Environment and Local Government; the award of the tender for consultancy work with the department and the appointment of Monica Leech Communications Ltd on February 9th, 2003, as consultants to the department.
Ms Leech, South Parade, Waterford, has also made voluntary discovery of all documents relating to her November 2001 appointment to the position of consultant to the Office of Public Works.
All documentation relating to invoices, receipts and all other claims for money made by her and her company in relation to the contracts with the department and the OPW has also been produced.
Ms Leech had indicated her laptop and diaries were stolen and, as a result, she could not supply documentation from these relating to her appointment as consultant to the OPW in 2001.
The judge was told the newspapers were seeking all documents relating to any voluntary work or paid work carried out by Ms Leech for Mr Cullen before her appointment as consultant to the OPW or relating to the period when she or her company acted as consultant to the Government department.
Additional categories of documents being sought include all documents submitted by Ms Leech to Dermot Quigley, who was appointed by the Taoiseach to look into the matter of the awarding of contracts to Ms Leech and her company.
The newspapers are also seeking documents relating to the foreign trips attended by Ms Leech on behalf of the department, the OPW or Mr Cullen.
Ms Leech has sued Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd as a result of a number of articles which appeared in the Evening Herald newspaper in November and December 2004.
In July 2002, she has claimed that, trading as Monica Leech Communications, she was granted a six-month contract as consultant to the Department of Environment and Local Government at a rate of €650 a day, having submitted a tender at that rate.
In January 2003, she claims her company was granted a two-year contract as a consultant to the department at a rate of €800 a day excluding VAT, having submitted a tender at that rate.
Her action against Associated Newspapers arises from a number of articles published in Ireland on Sunday in November and December 2004.
The newspapers deny the defamatory meanings contended for by Ms Leech. They have also set out alternative meanings for the material in the articles and have also pleaded fair comment. The hearing continues today.