£1 or one penny in damages: that is all that was awarded in libel damages to 2 famous Irish figures: Major John McBride and Albert Reynolds.
In 1906 Major John McBride took a libel action against the Irish Independent newspaper for publishing details of his Parisian divorce case.
In 1906 Major John McBride took a libel action against the Irish Independent newspaper for publishing details of his Parisian divorce case.
McBride won only £1 in damages and no legal costs despite seeking £5,000. The jury found an allegation of drunkenness was proven but allegations of immorality were unproven. McBride thought an award would address some of the damage done by his separation from Maude Gonne but it
only served to increase public awareness of the allegations originally made.
In 1996 after a trial of five weeks and two days a jury found that former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Albert Reynolds had been libelled in a Sunday Times article but that there was no malice and
In 1996 after a trial of five weeks and two days a jury found that former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Albert Reynolds had been libelled in a Sunday Times article but that there was no malice and
awarded him zero damages but this was later changed by the judge to one penny. The decision was appealed. The matter was later settled in 1999 after the case had gone all the way to the UK House of Lords on legal issues relating to privilege. The costs, in 1996, were estimated at
£1 million and that was before the appeal. High-stakes indeed.
Who really won in each case? – The Lawyers.
They should have used a mediator.
Who really won in each case? – The Lawyers.
They should have used a mediator.
