A HIGH COURT jury has found that businessman Denis O’Brien and spokesperson James Morrissey defamed two solicitors in 2016 by implying in a press release that they acted for the IRA.

The Irish Times reported that O’Brien and Morrissey have each been instructed to pay solicitors Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth €411,750 each for reputational damages.

The paper said the defamation suit related to a line in a press release responding to a report on media ownership in Ireland. It read: “Sinn Féin/IRA certainly got the report they paid for”.

The release was sent by James Morrissey on behalf of Denis O’Brien.

In a statement to The Journal, Johnsons Solicitors, who represented Mackin and Booth, said the press release “advanced serious and entirely baseless defamatory allegations against our clients”.

They said the solicitors are officers of the court and “highly respected” human rights lawyers.

“The allegations made had no foundation whatsoever. Today’s verdict speaks for itself. The jury’s award of substantial damages, together with aggravated damages, delivers a public vindication of our clients’ reputation and professional standing,” they added.

“This outcome underscores the gravity of the defamatory allegations and reaffirms that such unfounded attacks on individuals who serve the justice system should not be tolerated.”

Denis O’Brien and James Morrissey have been contacted for comment.