BROADCASTER PADDY O'Gorman has settled his newspaper libel action over an article which, he claimed, accused him of having a "perverted sexuality" during his participation in reality TV show Celebrity Farm.
The High Court heard yesterday that his libel action against Associated Newspapers (AN), publishers of the Mail titles, had been settled.
The original libel trial a year ago was halted after one of the AN titles, the Irish Daily Mail, published what Mr O'Gorman's lawyers said was a prejudicial report of proceedings. The jury was discharged on the second day over an article alongside the court report of the first day's proceedings.
Mr O'Gorman (51), sought damages over an article in Ireland on Sunday (now Irish Mail on Sunday), published on December 14th, 2003. The article, quoting Celebrity Farm participant and gossip columnist Gavin Lambe-Murphy, claimed Mr O'Gorman spoke of how he "loved the feeling" of women's tights against his legs and of how he "missed masturbation" while at the farm.
Mr O'Gorman said the article held him up to contempt and ridicule, damaged his professional standing and caused him to be subjected to an inquiry by his employers. He denied, under cross-examination in court, the claims by Mr Lambe-Murphy.
The newspaper denied the words published bore the meaning complained of, and said that they were true in substance and in fact.
The case was relisted a number of times before yesterday when Mr O'Gorman's counsel, Declan Doyle SC, told the court the case had been settled on consent between the parties.
Mr Doyle asked that the case be struck out with no further order. He also asked the court to vacate any other orders in respect of costs of the case. Mr Justice Eamon De Valera struck out the matter.