A former Iraqi army officer who says he used to be Uday Hussein's body double, has been awarded €15,000 damages for libel against the Sunday World.
Dr Latif Yahia was awarded the damages by the president of the Circuit Court, Mr Justice Matthew Deery arising out of an article published by the Sunday Worldon February 16th, 2003.
Mr Justice Deery said the article damaged his reputation as it would have led people to conclude he was charged for illegally possessing firearms.
Dr Yahia (42), Botanic Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin, said he was the body double for Uday Hussein, son of Saddam Hussein, for four years. In 1992 he was taken out of Iraq aided by the UN and was flown to Vienna. He survived four assassination attempts connected with his book I was Saddam's sonand moved here 10 years ago.
Dr Yahia said that his then Tallaght home was raided on May 20th, 2002, by gardaí who discovered a Walther pistol, two rounds of ammunition and a stun gun. He agreed they were his but said the pistol was "a toy gas gun".
Dr. Yahia said he was arrested and questioned before being released the next day. The published article stated that gardaí had discovered "a pistol, two rounds of ammunition and a stun gun" and claimed he was "due to be charged on firearms offences". He denied he was ever charged. Dr Yahia said his solicitor wrote a letter to the editor denying the report and seeking an apology and retraction but the paper refused.
Dr Yahia said the article was followed by a number of incidents, including missiles being thrown at his home and him being referred to as Bin Laden. He and his family were forced to move to England for a while, he said.
Mr Justice Deery said many of the elements in the article were "not correct", including that Dr Yahia was illegally armed, that he was due to face criminal charges and the caption underneath the photograph with the word charged.
He said the items found in Dr Yahia's home would be described as on the lowest level on a scale of firearms. The Sunday Worldis to appeal the award.