The husband of Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has been given an apology in the High Court by author and former TD Shane Ross and his publisher in relation to Mr Ross’s biography of Ms McDonald.
Martin Lanigan brought legal proceedings against Mr Ross and publisher Atlantic Books over references to him contained in the book Mary-Lou McDonald: a Republican Riddle, which was released in October 2022, reports RTE.
Mr Lanigan’s defamation and privacy action was scheduled to commence in the High Court today, with a jury made up of five women and seven men sworn in to hear the case.
However, the court was informed this afternoon that the dispute had been resolved, and that an apology would be issued on behalf of the defendants, reports RTE.
Senior Counsel Paul O’Higgins, representing Mr Ross and Atlantic Books, told the court that Mr Lanigan had complained the book suggested he was a member of the IRA and/or had received unlawful funds.
Mr O’Higgins said Mr Ross and his publisher stated they had never intended to convey any such implication and expressed deep regret if readers interpreted the book in that way, reports RTE.
He added that they were pleased to recognise that Mr Lanigan was above any suspicion of wrongdoing and welcomed the opportunity to make that position publicly clear and unequivocal.
The proceedings were struck out by Mr Justice Tony O’Connor, who commended both sides for successfully reaching a settlement, reports RTE.
The case had been expected to run for approximately five days.
Members of the jury panel had previously been told they would hear testimony from Mr Lanigan and Mr Ross, as well as from a mortgage broker, a quantity surveyor and journalist Sam Smyth, reports RTE.
After the hearing, Mr Lanigan said he was satisfied with the apology but declined to say whether he had received any financial settlement.
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