Mr Justice Barr has criticised Independent Newspapers over a failure to apologise for publishing 'harmful and misleading' information about the family of the late John Carthy.
He said he was terminating an investigation into the publication by the Sunday Independent of a statement made to the tribunal by Mr Carthy's former girlfriend.
The statement was published despite the fact that he had made an order that it should not be made public.
He also said he was unable to make any ruling on who was responsible for the information being given to the newspaper.
Lawyers for Independent Newspapers admitted the paper was unaware that John Carthy was not the legal owner of any land in Abbeylara when they published a story suggesting he was in a dispute with his family over requests that he should hand land over to his sister.
The newspaper said its reporter had made every effort to verify the information she was given by an informant.
Its lawyers told the tribunal, however, that they could not reveal the name of the informant.
The tribunal is now sitting in private to hear a ruling on whether John Carthy's former girlfriend should give evidence to the inquiry into his shooting in Abbeylara nearly four years ago.
The tribunal will hear final submissions from all parties over the next three weeks before concluding its work.
