A parish priest told the High Court yesterday that two brothers who are suing a newspaper for libel are believed by people in the Finglas area to be involved in crime.
Fr Séamus Ahern, of Rivermount, Finglas, was giving evidence on behalf of the Star Sunday newspaper on the fourth day of an action for damages by Alan Bradley and his brother Wayne over an article published in the newspaper on June 13th, 2004.
Evidence in the case concluded yesterday, and the jury is expected to retire later today to consider its verdict.
Alan (32) from Churchfield, Kentstown, Co Meath, and Wayne Bradley (27), of Cherryfield Lawn, Clonsilla, have sued Independent Star Ltd, Terenure Road North, Dublin, publisher of the newspaper.
The brothers claim the article meant they were the leaders of the most dangerous gang in Dublin's underworld and had made €4 million out of the proceeds of transit robberies, gun crime and money-laundering.
The extended article over two pages was accompanied by photographs with the faces blanked out and captioned: "The Fat Heads. Pictured this week by Star Sunday, the brothers aged 25 and 31 are responsible for a series of lucrative armed raids over the past four years."
It is claimed the article meant the brothers were leaders of the most dangerous criminal gang operating in Dublin's underworld and were guilty of carrying out armed raids and robberies. It is also claimed the article could be understood to mean the brothers had made €4 million out of the proceeds of cash-in-transit robberies, gun crime and money-laundering and were guilty of murder, violence and intimidation.
The Star Sunday claims the brothers are not identified in the article and are not defamed by it.
Yesterday Fr Ahern told the court he had been parish priest in Finglas south for the past 8½ years. The reputation of Alan and Wayne Bradley in the Finglas area, as far as he believed, was that they were known to be involved in crime.
Garda Martin Clavin said he was a community garda in Finglas and was in contact with local residents' associations and residents within the area. The reputation of the brothers within the Finglas community was that they were believed to be involved in serious crime, including armed robbery and drug distribution.