THE North Down MP, Mr Robert McCartney, brought a libel action yesterday against The Irish Times over an article written by Mr David Irvine, of the Progressive Unionist Party.
Mr McCartney, leader of the UK Unionist Party and a Queen's Counsel, was not in the High Court in Belfast when his action was set down for hearing on April, 28th.
His lawyer, Mr John Gillen QC, told Mr Justice Kerr that an early hearing was essential so that Mr McCartney's reputation could be vindicated before the election on May 1st.
Mr Gillen said that in The Irish Times on January 27th, Mr Irvine, alleged that Mr McCartney was insincere when he declared that he was laying aside his law practice to concentrate on serving his constituents.
The article went on: "I don't think somehow that the middle class people of North Down will be fooled by this obvious piece of" chicanery.
Mr Gillen said every barrister knew that Mr McCartney had not taken on any new cases in order toe give his full attention to political matters.
He said the allegation was the kind of slur that could cause irreparable damage to Mr McCartney in the forthcoming election and it was essential that his reputation should be vindicated before polling day.
Mr Gillen said The Irish Times had published an apology in which it unequivocally accepted that the allegation had no foundation and indicated its intention to pay Mr McCartney damages. But, he said, it was Mr McCartney's case that the apology was inadequate and was published in an insignificant place in the newspaper, Mr Brian Magee for The Irish Times confirmed that the paper accepted there was no substance "whatsoever in the allegation and was agreeable to any course which would mitigate the damage suffered by Mr McCartney.
Mr Justice Kerr said as the parties were in agreement and a jury panel was due to attend court one April 28th he would accede to the application to abridge time in order to facilitate an early trial.
"This course of action is, of course, irrespective of the identity of the parties in this case," the judge added.