Irish Times columnist John Waters has given evidence in his libel proceedings against the Sunday Times over an article which he claims meant that he was a bad father. The article was written by gossip columnist Terry Keane and published in June 2000. Senior Counsel Garret Cooney described the article as “the lowest form of journalism”.
Mr Waters told a jury in the High Court that his reaction was one of "absolute horror" when he read an article entitled "Allow me the Last Word on John Waters’ World". He said in evidence today that he was particularly horrified that Ms Keane had dragged his young daughter Roisin into the article.
Mr Waters said that being a father is the most important part of his life. In a voice breaking with emotion, he said that he visited a church on the day his daughter was born and vowed that he would always love her and do whatever was necessary to protect her.
When the little girl was three-years-old, the informal custody arrangements he had enjoyed with Roisin's mother, singer Sinead O'Connor, broke down. Litigation followed both in the Republic and in London. He and Ms O'Connor had a brief relationship in 1995.
By the time Mr Waters was asked to address an Abbey Theatre audience prior to a performance of Medea in June 2000, a joint custody agreement was in place. In his address, Mr Waters was addressing the themes in the play, a Greek tragedy which culminates in Medea killing her children as an act of revenge.
Sunday Times columnist Terry Keane wrote about his talk on the following Sunday. When he read the article, Mr Waters said he was “weak and dizzy with nausea that any human being could do this to him and his daughter”.
His remarks had related to Medea but he said Ms Keane had given his comments a general context, excising part of a crucial sentence. He said she was saying that he did not believe in love, whereas he had spent the previous four years showing he believed in love in a “total and unmitigated way”.
Mr Waters will continue his evidence tomorrow. The Sunday Times is denying the claim.
