THE solicitors who acted for Paratrooper Lee Clegg when he was convicted of murder were awarded "substantial" libel damages in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
It was the second pay out in three weeks to the five partners in the Belfast firm of McCartan Turkington Breen.
The amount of damages they received in settlement of actions against the Daily Express and the Sunday Express was not disclosed but it was believed to run into six figures. Last month the Daily Telegraph was ordered by a jury to pay £130,000 to the partners - Mr Bernard Turkington, Mr Damien Breen, Mr Ernest Telford, Mr Gerald McVeigh and Mr Michael Bennett.
They have three other libel actions against the Times, the Mail on Sunday and the BBC still to be resolved.
Mr Michael Lavery QC, who appeared for the firm along with Mr Mervyn Morrow QC and Ms Aiva Brangham (instructed by Elliott Duffy Garrett), said the actions had been settled subject to a statement being read in court.
Mr John Thompson QC, for the defendants, read a prepared statement which said that comments in the two papers had incorrectly and without any justification, improperly reflected on the expertise and conduct of McCartan Turkington Breen, a firm of the highest standing and, repute."
The statement said the papers unreservedly accepted that Clegg received expert and professional legal representation, and acknowledged and accepted that his conviction could not be considered in any way an adverse reflection on his lawyers' conduct and ability.
The statement concluded: "The newspapers also acknowledge and accept that the articles caused great personal and professional distress to McCartan Turkington Breen.
"The Sunday Express and the Daily Express are pleased to take this opportunity to set the record straight, firstly by this apology and secondly by their agreement to pay the firm substantial damages."
Clegg was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Ms Karen Reilly (18) in September 1990. She was a passenger in a stolen car which came under fire after it went through a checkpoint in west Belfast.
Clegg lost two appeals but he was freed on licence last July and is now back with the Parachute Regiment.