A woman has settled her High Court action alleging she was libelled in a Sunday newspaper article which, she claimed, falsely stated she had an affair with former Garda superintendent Kevin Lennon.
Ms Josephine Patricia Jackson (nee Bradley) (52) - a native of Buncrana, Co Donegal, with an address at Limavady Road, Waterside, Derry - had sued Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd, owners of Ireland on Sundaynewspaper, and journalist Frank Connolly, over an article published in the paper on March 9th, 2003, under the headline "Rogue Garda Lennon 'stole' my wife".
On the second day of the hearing yesterday, Mr Justice Peter Charleton and the jury were told the matter had been settled and could be struck out.
Under the settlement, Eoin McCullough SC, on behalf of Associated Newspapers, read an apology to Ms Jackson to the court.
It stated: "On March 9th, 2003, we reported on civil proceedings against the state in which a claim was made that Josephine Jackson (nee Bradley) had an affair with superintendent Lennon. Ms Jackson denies that she had any relationship of any nature whatsoever with superintendent Lennon.
"We did not intend to suggest that Ms Jackson had such an affair. We unreservedly withdraw any such suggestion in our report. We wish to apologise to Ms Jackson and regret the distress the article caused to her and her family."
Outside court, Ms Jackson said she was "delighted with the outcome". She said the defendant had agreed "to pay me satisfactory damages and all my legal costs" but declined to reveal an exact figure.
She added: "Ireland on Sunday published material about me that was untrue and hurtful. They have unreservedly withdrawn the allegation that I had an affair with superintendent Lennon and more importantly have apologised to me here in court today."
The newspaper also agreed to publish an apology, she said.
In opening the case, Hugh Mohan SC, for Ms Jackson, told the court that the article had said that Ms Jackson was involved in "a love triangle" with her estranged husband ex-garda Ciarán Jackson and Kevin Lennon.
Ms Jackson and her husband, who have one child, had split up in June 1993, and she now lives in Derry with her partner of several years, the court heard. She claimed the article stated she had an affair with Kevin Lennon in the early 1990s during her marriage, and that she sought his support to use his position to force Ciarán Jackson to surrender his property and other assets to her.
Counsel said the claims were untrue, and that she never had an affair with Kevin Lennon, who she had meet on just three occasions.