Dunne settles newspaper libel action
Wednesday, 11 November 2009 14:34A libel action taken by Gayle Dunne (nee Killilea), wife of property developer Sean Dunne, against the publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday has been settled.
The action related to an article published in Ireland on Sunday on 30 July 2006. The newspaper is now known as the Irish Mail on Sunday.
Lawyers for Ireland on Sunday read an apology to the High Court.
It said it had published an article in which it wrongly stated that a garda investigation into improper accessing of mobile phone messaging services had involved allegations made by five people against Mrs Dunne.
The newspaper said it now accepted this was incorrect.
The apology also said the newspaper accepted Mrs Dunne was never contacted by gardaí in relation to any such alleged complaints. It apologised to Mrs Dunne for any suggestion to the contrary.
The apology will also appear in next Sunday's Irish Mail on Sunday.
In a statement issued on behalf of Mrs Dunne, her solicitors said both she and Associated Newspapers were happy to say that they had resolved their differences and had reached a negotiated settlement.
The statement said both parties had signed a confidentiality clause on the terms of settlement and were not able to comment further on them.
