The CIE group chief executive, Mr Michael McDonnell, who claims the Sunday Business Post libelled him in an attack on his appointment, was ordered by the High Court yesterday to make "wide-ranging discovery" of documents and give them to the newspaper's lawyers.
Mr Justice O'Sullivan said the assertions by Mr McDonnell challenged the veracity of every statement of fact and every claimed innuendo of the entire article. It was also fair to say that unless the newspaper was about to "cave in with its hands in the air" the issues between the parties were going to be multitudinous. The Sunday Business Post and reporter Edward Harding had pleaded that what was written was fair comment. The matter came before the High Court by way of an appeal by Mr McDonnell against an order of the Master of the High Court granting the newspaper discovery of documents in Mr McDonnell's possession or procurement.
Mr Justice O'Sullivan said he would make an order generally along the lines sought by the newspaper's lawyers, but with some exceptions.