A libel action by a Galway college lecturer against two colleagues who circulated defamatory emails about him has been settled before the High Court.
Terry Casey from Barna in Galway, a lecturer in Marketing at the School of Business in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology took what is understood to be among the first civil libel cases for material circulated in an email to be settled.
Mr Casey took the action against the Head of the School of Business in GMIT, Larry Elwood, and the Head of the Business Studies Department and GMIT, Deirdre Lusby.
At the High Court this morning an apology from the defendants was read.
It said that in an attachment to emails circulated by them in January 2005, they published remarks which were defamatory to Mr Casey in the way of his office, calling and profession.
It said the allegations were entirely without foundation and have caused Mr Casey considerable distress, anxiety and upset.
They accepted their serious error in publishing the defamatory remarks.
They unreservedly apologised and agreed to pay Mr Casey a substantial sum in damages and costs.
Afterwards Mr Casey said he was delighted and overjoyed with the settlement.
It was a complete vindication of his position and reputation.
He said to have to take the proceedings in the first place had caused him great personal distress, but such was the concerted assault on his reputation integrity and good name that he had absolutely no alternative.
He thanked friends, colleagues and his family and legal team for their support.
The details of the settlement could not be made public however sources indicated a six-figure sum was agreed.
