Ms Marina Howard, the daughter of Mr James Howard, told the High Court today she met Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn between March and May of 1990. Ms Cooper-Flynn has denied ever meeting any of the Howard family and is suing Mr Howard and RTÉ for libel.
Ms Howard, the final witness to be called in the 24-day-old trial, told the High Court she met Ms Cooper-Flynn in her home and that she chatted to her for about 20 minutes or so until her father, Mr Howard, came downstairs, at which point she left the room so that Ms Cooper-Flynn and her father could conduct their business.
She said Ms Beverly Cooper-Flynn appeared to have everything as she had a good job in the bank, a nice car and had just got engaged.
"I was unemployed and there was no man in sight for me. She was going places and I was going nowhere," Ms Howard said.
Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for Ms Cooper-Flynn, asked Ms Howard why she had asked Mr Charlie Bird, after he had interviewed her for television, if Ms Cooper-Flynn could come back at her.
Ms Howard said she was concerned that she might be sued.
"Sued for what?," asked Mr Cooney.
"For telling the truth," said Ms Howard.
Mr Cooney asked: "Sued for telling the truth?"
Referring to her father, Ms Howard replied: "Well daddy did."
At that point Mr Justice Frederick Morris had to tell the public gallery not to applaud the witness and he then adjourned the case until Tuesday morning when final arguments will be heard.