RTE journalist Charlie Bird agreed at the High Court yesterday that an RTE programme about an offshore investment policy scheme in 1998 had a most damaging impact on Fianna Fail TD Beverley Cooper-Flynn's reputation and good name.
Ms Cooper-Flynn was given every opportunity by himself and RTE to respond to the claims, Mr Bird said.
Mr Bird was being cross-examined by Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for Ms Cooper-Flynn, on the 23rd day of her libel action resulting from broadcasts in June and July 1998. She is suing RTE, Mr Bird and a retired farmer, Mr James Howard, claiming words used meant she had instigated a scheme intended as a means to evade the lawful payment of tax. The defence denies libel.
Mr Bird said he contacted the TD twice by phone on June 18th, delivered a letter and travelled to Co Cavan. They were doing their "damndest" to get her response. Mr Cooney said Mr Bird knew before broadcasts at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on June 19th that they would inflict enormous damage on her good name and reputation. Mr Bird replied: "Yes, I knew it was going to have an impact." He later added he knew they were going to have a serious impact.
Mr Bird said he would not accept the broadcasts practically annihilated her reputation. He did not think that would happen and was sure Ms Cooper-Flynn would "do all right" in Mayo. Mr Cooney said he was sure his client would be "consoled" by that.
Mr Cooney referred Mr Bird to a transcript of an RTE television news broadcast on June 28th, 1998, which began by saying that Ms Cooper-Flynn denied meeting or speaking to a man whom the Sunday Independent reported had claimed was brought into the NIB offshore investment scheme. Mr Bird said he had no input into that broadcast and did not see Mr Howard's name in that report.
Asked by Mr Cooney why RTE did not admit in the broadcast the person was Mr Howard, Mr Bird said Mr Howard had not "released" him to allow him to use his name.
Counsel suggested Ms Cooper-Flynn had been singled out for special attention. Mr Bird said that was because she was a TD. One of the reasons they decided to investigate her was because she was a member of the Oireachtas and Public Accounts Committee. He agreed no other employee's name had been used in any programme on NIB.
It was purely coincidental her father - then EU Commissioner Mr Padraig Flynn - had been "roped in", Mr Bird said. They had received an anonymous letter which may have prompted referring to him.
Mr Cooney suggested it was reprehensible to put an accusation or implication on the basis of an anonymous source and that with a case being made against Mr Flynn's daughter, Mr Bird was "looking for two for the price of one". Mr Bird said that was not correct. He denied he had gone out of his way to target Ms Cooper-Flynn because she would be a "big scalp on your belt" if he was able to bring her down.
Mr Bird said he had gone out of his way to be fair to Ms Cooper-Flynn before the first interview with Mr Howard was broadcast.
The hearing continues today.