Fianna Fáil TD, Beverley Cooper-Flynn, has said that she is strongly considering an appeal of today's jury verdict in the High Court. The jury found that RTÉ had not proved that she had induced a farmer to evade his tax obligations by not availing of the tax amnesty. However they decided that Ms Cooper-Flynn had encouraged a number of other people to evade paying their taxes. They awarded no damages to Ms Cooper-Flynn finding that her reputation had not suffered through RTÉ broadcasts in 1998.
It was the longest running libel action in the State's history. Beverley Cooper-Flynn was suing RTÉ, Charlie Bird and retired farmer James Howard for libel over allegations that she was encouraging tax evasion. It took the jury four hours to decide RTÉ had failed to prove that she induced Mr Howard to evade his lawful obligation to pay tax by not availing of the tax amnesty. But while Ms Cooper-Flynn won on this point, the jury found against her when they decided that RTÉ had proved she encouraged other people who gave evidence during the trial to evade their taxes.
Therefore the RTÉ broadcasts, featuring James Howard, had done no damage to her reputation and the jury decided to award no money to the Dáil Deputy. Ms Cooper-Flynn was impassive as the jury verdict became clear. Her sister, Sharon, put a supportive arm on her shoulder, shaking her head in disbelief. As she left the Four Courts after seven weeks, she spoke briefly to reporters. Charlie Bird and his colleague, George Lee, hugged each other during the verdict.
