Independent News and Media has apologised to John Brown, the brother of Dana Rosemary Scallon, for “distress and harm caused to him and his family” in a defamation case stemming from 2013.
Substantial amounts for damages were also agreed to be payable to Mr Brown. His solicitor said that they had taken on a publishing “Goliath” and “vindicated John Brown’s good name”.
The High Court heard this week that two defamation actions taken by Mr Brown against both the Irish Independent and the Sunday World (which is owned by Independent News and Media) had been settled.
Brian Gageby, Counsel for Independent News and Media, read separate apologies from the two newspapers to the court .
The Irish Independent acknowledged that on 7 June 2013 it had wrongly reported that a bench warrant had been issued for Mr Brown’s arrest, and that it accepted “no such warrant was ever issued” and that Mr Brown had attended all court appearances as required and was subsequently acquitted of all charges.
The incorrect claim was published at a time when Mr Brown was facing charges of assault, of which he was later fully acquitted.
The Sunday World admitted “groundless allegations” were published about Mr Brown on its website and on its Facebook pages on July 10 2014 which “reflected very badly on his character, good name and reputation”.
The paper said that it “unreservedly” withdrew the allegations and apologised to Mr Brown and his family.
Both publications said they had agreed to pay legal costs as well as damages.
Speaking outside the High Court, Mr Brown said today’s settlement had finally brought the matter to a close after what he called a “long hard battle for seven years”.
“To publish unfounded allegations based on untruths is probably the worst thing that anyone could have done against them. Fabricated newspaper articles is not good for the reader, and just because it’s in the news doesn’t mean to say that it’s true,” he said.
He said the victory was an “extremely emotional” day and that both publications had apologised and acknowledged the damage that was caused to him and his reputation.
Mr Brown said that he and his sister Dana had received death threats and that “vile” comments had been made about them on Facebook.
His solicitor Brendan Kelly said they had taken on the “Goliath of Independent Newspapers” and had “brought them to task” and “set the record straight today”
“Most importantly, we have vindicated John Brown’s good name,” he said.