A breach of privacy action brought by Nikki Pelley, the girlfriend of convicted murderer Joe O’Reilly, against the Irish Sun newspaper over publication of letters exchanged between the two has been settled at the High Court.
Ms Pelley had sought an injunction, damages and declarations against the newspaper over publication of articles on March 19th and March 21st, 2011, featuring private correspondence between her and O’Reilly.
It is understood Ms Pelley is to receive a payment of €75,000, plus her legal costs, and the Sun has also undertaken not to publish any of her private letters, emails or other communications in the future.
The articles related to two letters between the couple that were sent after O’Reilly began serving a life sentence in 2007 for the murder of his wife Rachel in 2004. He is serving the sentence at Midlands Prison.