Independent Newspapers has lost a High Court application to dismiss, on grounds of delay, an action by a Dublin-based law lecturer alleging defamation in two articles published in the Irish Independent. The articles were based on claims made in a TV programme by former IRA man turned informer, Eamon Collins.
Mr Justice McKechnie directed that the action, by Mr David Ewins, might proceed. He found while there was some delay of about three years in advancing the case, it was neither inordinate nor inexcusable. He awarded costs to Mr Ewins.
Independent Newspapers had argued there was inordinate and inexcusable delay by Mr Ewins in progressing the action, which had prejudiced the newspaper's defence.