A Dublin model, Ms Elaine Moore, is to be paid "substantial compensation" by the former publishers of Magill magazine and its former editor, Mr Vincent Browne, in settlement of her libel action over an article in Magill, the High Court was told yesterday.
The settlement figure was not disclosed but it is understood to be in the region of £50,000 and costs.
Mr Justice Smith was told that, in September 1998, the magazine had asserted that she was a member of the "Real IRA" but that the allegation was "wholly false."
Ms Moore sued for libel and the action was listed for hearing yesterday before a judge and jury. But when it was called, Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for Ms Moore, announced it had been settled and, under the settlement terms, an apology would be read out.
In the apology, read by Mr Hugh Mohan SC, for the defence, it was stated that, in September 1998 a special edition of Magill featured extensive coverage of the devastation caused by the Omagh bomb which claimed the lives of 29 innocent people.
It added: "In this edition, a reference was made to Miss Elaine Moore which asserted that she was a member of the `Real IRA', therefore insinuating that she was implicated in the atrocity.
"At that time, Miss Moore had been wrongfully arrested in London, England; she had always protested her innocence of the offences charged against her and her protests were fully vindicated when the English authorities shortly afterwards dropped these charges and her liberty was fully restored to her."
The apology continued: "Magill, then published by Coliemore Publications, and its then editor, Mr Vincent Browne, are now happy to acknowledge that the allegation which they published about Miss Moore was wholly false and that she had no connection whatsoever with the `Real IRA' or indeed with any terrorist organisation. "They further acknowledge that the ethos and activities of such organisations are wholly abhorrent to her.
"They now formally retract the allegation made against her and apologise for the damage which it did to her good name and reputation. They regret very much the deep personal distress caused to her and her family, which was greatly exacerbated by the fact that the accusation was made in the aftermath of the bombing at Omagh.
"As an acknowledgement of their mistake and as a measurement of the sincerity of this retraction and apology, both Magill and Mr Vincent Browne wish it to be known that they have paid substantial compensation to Miss Moore, together with her legal costs."
Mr Cooney said Ms Moore was satisfied with the apology, which would be published in the next issue of Magill.
Ms Moore, of Beechpark Court, Coolock, Dublin, was in court and said afterwards that she was "pleased that she was vindicated." She was accompanied by her mother, Ms Kathy Moore, and her stepfather, Mr Tom Beirne.