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Minister admits to contractor slur
31/01/2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland have secured damages for a contractor after SDLP minister Thomas Burns admitted he had libelled the firm.
Not only did solicitors win damages for Eastwood, but also obtained an apology from the Northern Ireland Assembly member, the BBC reports.
In the Belfast High Court, solicitors acting on behalf of Mr Burns read out an apology exonerating Eastwood from any wrongdoing.
The Carryduff-based firm called its solicitors after accusing Mr Burns of making defamatory comments over its application to build an asbestos transfer plant at Crosshill Quarry in Crumlin.
Mr Burns sent a letter to former environment minister Angela Smith in December 2004, claiming that Eastwood had crushed railway carriages at Crosshill the previous May and that he could provide evidence and witnesses.
In the letter, he declared that Eastwood was "in cahoots with the planners or in bed with the Planning Service".
Northern Ireland solicitors managed to settle the case out of court, securing an undisclosed amount of compensation.
However, making the apology public in Belfast, solicitors said Mr Burns "now fully acknowledges that this evidence was entirely incorrect".
Eastwood has also received compensation from newspapers for publishing the comments.
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Not only did solicitors win damages for Eastwood, but also obtained an apology from the Northern Ireland Assembly member, the BBC reports.
In the Belfast High Court, solicitors acting on behalf of Mr Burns read out an apology exonerating Eastwood from any wrongdoing.
The Carryduff-based firm called its solicitors after accusing Mr Burns of making defamatory comments over its application to build an asbestos transfer plant at Crosshill Quarry in Crumlin.
Mr Burns sent a letter to former environment minister Angela Smith in December 2004, claiming that Eastwood had crushed railway carriages at Crosshill the previous May and that he could provide evidence and witnesses.
In the letter, he declared that Eastwood was "in cahoots with the planners or in bed with the Planning Service".
Northern Ireland solicitors managed to settle the case out of court, securing an undisclosed amount of compensation.
However, making the apology public in Belfast, solicitors said Mr Burns "now fully acknowledges that this evidence was entirely incorrect".
Eastwood has also received compensation from newspapers for publishing the comments.
Free advice for personal injury claims
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