Chat show host Patrick Kielty was today awarded substantial damages and received an apology from a tabloid newspaper over a report about his conduct outside a Dublin bar.
The Northern Ireland-born comedian was awarded the undisclosed sum at the Belfast High Court after bringing a libel action against the Daily Starover an item that appeared last November.
The report focused on an alleged incident outside a Dublin bar concerning his dress code and conduct.
Solicitors acting for Express Newspapers, which publish the Daily Star, said it now accepted Mr Kielty's assurance that no such incident occurred and that the report was incorrect.
The newspaper group apologised to Mr Kielty and his partner, the former Big Breakfasthost Amanda Bryam, for "any embarrassment caused" to them and agreed to pay the damages and legal costs.
The comedian, who fronts a BBC1 chat show, welcomed the outcome. After the hearing, Mr Kielty said: "I came here to get my name cleared and the apology read in court was more important to me than the substantial damages I have been awarded".
PA