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28/11/2012
Sinn Féin Libel Case Under Way
A jury has begun hearing evidence in a libel case against Sinn Féin.
Declan Gormley brought the case against Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy following his sacking from the board of Northern Ireland Water.
He is suing the party for damages and claims two Sinn Féin press releases last year which supported his sacking were defamatory.
One of the press releases appeared the day a Public Accounts Committee report questioned the circumstances of the sackings.
Mr Murphy had sacked Mr Gormley along with three other NI Water directors in 2010.
The four were dismissed after an investigation was completed into how contracts were awarded. Mr Gormley has repeatedly and stringently denied any wrong-doing.
A press release issued on 12 March 2010 read: "The findings of the report stated that there had been a serious breakdown in the governance and control framework of NIW in relation to contract approvals, and stated that this was a serious matter for those responsible, namely the NIW Board and Executives responsible for ensuring compliance."
Mr Gormley is now suing Sinn Féin, the party's Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan and former assembly member Willie Clarke for libel.
Mr Gormley's lawyer told the court during proceedings on Tuesday that the press releases from Cathal Boylan did not represent the findings of the PAC report accurately and added insult to injury.
Mr Gormley is due to give evidence today.
Sinn Féin's defence is expected to argue qualified privilege, i.e. that it was entitled to respond to an attack by Mr Gormley.
The jury began hearing evidence on Tuesday. The case is scheduled to last five days.
(IT/GK)
Declan Gormley brought the case against Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy following his sacking from the board of Northern Ireland Water.
He is suing the party for damages and claims two Sinn Féin press releases last year which supported his sacking were defamatory.
One of the press releases appeared the day a Public Accounts Committee report questioned the circumstances of the sackings.
Mr Murphy had sacked Mr Gormley along with three other NI Water directors in 2010.
The four were dismissed after an investigation was completed into how contracts were awarded. Mr Gormley has repeatedly and stringently denied any wrong-doing.
A press release issued on 12 March 2010 read: "The findings of the report stated that there had been a serious breakdown in the governance and control framework of NIW in relation to contract approvals, and stated that this was a serious matter for those responsible, namely the NIW Board and Executives responsible for ensuring compliance."
Mr Gormley is now suing Sinn Féin, the party's Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan and former assembly member Willie Clarke for libel.
Mr Gormley's lawyer told the court during proceedings on Tuesday that the press releases from Cathal Boylan did not represent the findings of the PAC report accurately and added insult to injury.
Mr Gormley is due to give evidence today.
Sinn Féin's defence is expected to argue qualified privilege, i.e. that it was entitled to respond to an attack by Mr Gormley.
The jury began hearing evidence on Tuesday. The case is scheduled to last five days.
(IT/GK)
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