What was shaping up to be a full courtroom battle never made it past the opening stages.
Martin Lanigan, husband of Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, has settled his defamation case against former government minister Shane Ross and the publisher Atlantic Books, bringing the dispute to a close with a formal apology delivered in the High Court.
The Book at the Center of the Dispute
The legal action stemmed from Shane Ross’s 2022 biography of Mary Lou McDonald, titled Mary Lou McDonald A Republican Riddle.
Mr Lanigan claimed that parts of the book damaged his reputation by suggesting links that he strongly denied.
He argued that the material implied he had been associated with the IRA and had benefited from illicit funds.
Trial Plans Changed at the Last Moment
The defamation trial had been scheduled to begin on Wednesday and was expected to last five days.
A jury of six men and six women had already been selected, and the court had been briefed on a list of potential witnesses, including Mr Lanigan himself, Mr Ross, veteran journalist Sam Smyth, and professionals from the finance and construction sectors.
But behind the scenes, legal teams were in discussions. Those talks proved decisive.
Lawyers Confirm a Settlement in Court
Addressing Mr Justice Tony O’Connor, Tom Hogan SC, representing Mr Lanigan, confirmed that the case had been resolved.
He told the court that the parties had reached a settlement and that an apology would be read on behalf of the defendants.
That apology was delivered by Paul O’Higgins SC, speaking for both Shane Ross and Atlantic Books.
A Clear and Public Apology
In the apology, the defendants addressed the heart of Mr Lanigan’s complaint.
Counsel said Mr Lanigan had objected to suggestions that he was a member of the IRA or had received unlawful funds.
Atlantic Books and Shane Ross stated that no such allegation was ever intended.
They said that if any readers interpreted the book in that way, they “very much regret” it.
The apology went further, explicitly stating that Mr Lanigan was “above suspicion” and confirming that this position was now being made publicly clear and unambiguous.
Judge Formally Ends the Proceedings
With both sides in agreement, Mr Justice O’Connor struck out the case.
He also set aside any earlier rulings on legal costs, effectively drawing a line under the proceedings.
The jury that had been empanelled earlier was no longer required, and the anticipated multi-day hearing was cancelled before any evidence was heard.
Reaction Outside the High Court
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Lanigan said he was satisfied with the apology issued in court.
He declined to comment on whether the settlement included any financial payment, keeping the details of the agreement private.
What’s Next?
With the case formally closed, the focus now shifts away from the courtroom.
The apology stands on the public record, the proceedings are over, and all sides appear ready to move on from a dispute that came to an abrupt but decisive end.
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