Frank Fahey receives large sum and apology in libel action against Associated Newspapers

The former minister took the action over newspaper articles written in 2006, 2007 and 2010, which he said libelled him.

19/12/12 5,913 Views 29 Comments

Former minister Frank Fahey has received an apology and a six-figure sum in damages

Image: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

FORMER MINISTER FRANK Fahey has received a “six-figure sum” and an apology following the settlement of his libel action against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Irish Daily Mail and the Irish Mail on Sunday.

Fahey took the action over articles written in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

In its apology, Associated Newspapers said it had “wrongly” reported that Fahey had been accused in the Dail of being involved in tax evasion. The newspapers said they had also published “inaccurate” statements relating to his administration of the Lost at Sea Scheme, RTE reports.

Fahey’s solicitor said the large figure granted in damages to his client reflected the “gravity of the slurs on his character”.

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Mary Mc Carthy 19/12/12 #

8 88

Maybe Frank might like to donate his ‘damages’ to a charity as I am sure as an ex minister and TD he has a fairly substantial pension

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- Elrat 19/12/12 #
  
  3 31
  
  And hell will freeze over !
  
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- Stephen_Lynch 19/12/12 #
  
  12 13
  
  They are his due and he was entitled to him. I guess it was just people casting aspersions on a man just because he was a FF Minister. However Judge DeValera found that he had done no wrong. If an Irish Cuban judge can’t be trusted then who can. If it was a Cuban Communist party official in front of the bench he might have a bias one way or another but not here. Thank God.
  
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Stephen_Lynch 19/12/12 #

16 103

At the end of the day you will still be Frank Fahey and nothing can compensate you for that or us for your time as a Minister.

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- Paddy O Donnell 19/12/12 #
  
  34 23
  
  we as a country voted him in!
  
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Frank2521 19/12/12 #

2 12

Mary Harney also sued a newspaper for labelling her an alcoholic. She sued for €500,000:00 and settled for close to that. She was minister for health that promoted the idea of abolishing stigmas around mentel health yet waited to sue until she retired that position. She also said it was a point of principle. I suggested at the time she donate the money to a Rehab for Alcoholics but no – that would be against their other principles.

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- Stephen_Lynch 19/12/12 #
  
  0 5
  
  The only principle is the interest on the principal.
  
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Barry Basstard 19/12/12 #

8 20

As the old saying goes “have it and you’ll get it” which basically means money comes to money .

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Frank2521 19/12/12 #

1 6

Denis O Brian owns Lowery. I have a pet dog which I need a licence for — what sort of licence does one need for owning a politician.

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Kevin Mannion 19/12/12 #

0 3

How do they determine how much someone should get? Would a homeless man accused of the same crime get the same payout?

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Gerard 19/12/12 #

15 19

No harm that Dirty mail was wrong regardless of the TD rag paper that will soon be thing of the past

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- Briny Boy 19/12/12 #
  
  7 14
  
  How do you reckon that? Are you privy to the company’s financial state or are you just an amateur Nostradamus? Regardless of your hatred for the paper, it employs a lot of people in Ireland so be careful what you wish for.
  
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- Gerard 19/12/12 #
  
  12 9
  
  Well first Mail readers have been declining for years so work it out
  
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- Briny Boy 19/12/12 #
  
  4 9
  
  How do you know they have? Can you back it up with some figures?
  
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- Little Jim 19/12/12 #
  
  5 10
  
  Daily mail readership is rising.
  We need alternatives to D O’Briens INM (like it or not).
  How one fella got his hands on so much media is still a puzzle.
  
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- Gerard 19/12/12 #
  
  5 5
  
  Yes when they release their figures year in year out sounds like you love daily mail and are hurting because once again liable for damages
  
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- Gerard 19/12/12 #
  
  7 6
  
  plus with all these new tablets smart phones real live news at the tip of your finger instead of reading yesterday’s news today
  
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- Briny Boy 19/12/12 #
  
  3 5
  
  And once again, if you had done any research, you would find that Mail Online is one of the most visited news websites in the world. I don’t agree with everything that appears either online or in the paper but they are here to stay, whether you like it or not.
  
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Glen Brereton 19/12/12 #

6 8

@gerard. If you knew what you were on about you’d know Associated Newspapers Ireland have actually gained readership share and held circulation better than any other newspapers in the country. Very very ill-informed

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- Gerard 19/12/12 #
  
  2 4
  
  False news paper that’s makes headlines for wrong reasons tell me I’m wrong again all Irish papers are declining every year and gonna get worst watch this space look cross the water news papers on average shutting down like pubs in Ireland and the blame is smart phones tablets
  
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- Briny Boy 19/12/12 #
  
  3 4
  
  It’s pretty clear alright that you don’t read newspapers or anything else for that matter…otherwise you would know what punctuation is.
  
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- Fenian Bhoy 19/12/12 #
  
  2 4
  
  Yeah could do that but still plan english etc sending sms so get a life yawn yawn you muppet end of day paper will pay out for false info and now have to lower themselves once more and Apologise
  
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- Fenian Bhoy 19/12/12 #
  
  1 2
  
  Plain* before you tell me i can’t read
  
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- Fenian Bhoy 19/12/12 #
  
  1 2
  
  Or write maybe
  
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- Fenian Bhoy 19/12/12 #
  
  1 3
  
  Well I’m lucky I’ve a good job in stock control don’t do Facebook break down my words because i use twitter max 160 characters overall I’m well educated i like to think
  
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James Gorman 19/12/12 #

1 3

INM has no credibility for me with DOB in control. I fully believe the tribunal findings. Will now wait for the solicitors threatening letter in post…

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FuxAcheLad 19/12/12 #

3 4

All I’ll say is there’s no smoke without fire!!!

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Nicky Power 19/12/12 #

5 3

All I’ll say is there’s no smoke without fire!!!

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Al S Macthomais 20/12/12 #

2 0

Devil looks after its own children.

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Frank Fahey receives large sum and apology in libel action against Associated Newspapers