An English peer who led a campaign to free Lee Clegg, the paratrooper convicted of murdering Belfast teenager Karen Reilly, apologised in writing to the High Court in Belfast yesterday for remarks he made about the soldier's legal representatives. Lord St Oswald (76), a former officer in the Parachute Regiment, was not in court when the apology to the firm of McCartan Turkington Breen was read out.
Five partners in the firm sued the peer and the BBC for libel. The agreed statement, read out by Mr Donnel Deeny QC, said: "I apologise for any criticism of McCartan Turkington Breen made or implied in comments which I made at Nostell Priory on January 23rd, 1995. Whilst I believe that Private Clegg should not have been found guilty of murder, I now accept that Private Clegg's conviction was not attributable in any way to his representation by McCartan Turkington Breen or counsel."
The case was before the court by way of an appeal by Lord St Oswald against Lord Justice Carswell's ruling that the libel action should be heard in Belfast and not London.
Mr Michael Lavery QC, for the plaintiffs, said it had been agreed that the appeal should be dismissed and the action against Lord St Oswald discontinued, subject to his apology being read in open court. But the action against the BBC would go ahead.