A Co Derry businessman who won a libel case against Sinn Féin has been awarded £80,000 (€98,000) damages in the Belfast High Court.
A jury made the award to Declan Gormley this morning.
Mr Gormley had sued Sinn Féin over the contents of two press releases the party issued in 2011 after Mr Gormley was sacked as a director of Northern Ireland Water.
He was sacked by Stormont minister Conor Murphy in 2010, following a review of the awarding of contracts at the company.
During a ten-day trial, Mr Gormley said the statements by Sinn Féin had damaged his reputation and were reckless.
The party denied that the press releases were defamatory, but the jury found they had acted with malice.
Mr Gormley said he was delighted with the verdict, which had vindicated him.
He said he would have been happy to settle for an apology and a public acknowledgement saying it was wrong.
Mr Gormley was awarded £80,000 plus costs.
