The mother and sister of John Carthy, who was shot dead six years ago in Abbeylara, Co Longford, have settled a High Court action for damages for libel over an article in the Sunday Independent newspaper.
Under the terms of settlement, the newspaper apologised in court to the Carthys and will also publish a front page apology this Sunday.
Mr Carthy (27) was shot dead by members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit during a siege in Abbeylara in April 2004. The Barr tribunal into the circumstances of the death is due to report shortly.
The Sunday Independentapologised to Rose Carthy and her daughter, Marie, over an incorrect allegation, made in a report in that newspaper on October 31st, 2004, that new evidence had been presented to the Barr tribunal to the effect that Mr Carthy had been in dispute with his sister over land he had inherited from his relatives.
Rose and Marie Carthy had brought proceedings against Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd alleging libel in the article, published under the headline "Dramatic new evidence in Abbeylara case."
The case was due to open today before Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne and a jury.
However, after talks between the sides, barristers told the court the action had been settled. As part of the settlement, an apology was read to the court by Brian O'Moore, SC for the newspaper.
It stated: "On the 31st October 2004, the Sunday Independentpublished an article entitled 'Dramatic new evidence in Abbeylara case" concerning the Barr tribunal of enquiry into the Abbeylara siege. This article contained the incorrect allegation that new evidence had been presented to the tribunal to the effect that the deceased John Carthy had been in dispute with his sister Marie Carthy over land which he had inherited from his relatives and had, as a result, a strained relationship with his relatives.
"We now accept that such allegations were false and that the Barr tribunal had previously found in a private hearing that John Carthy had not inherited any land from relatives.
"The Sunday Independentunreservedly withdraws these allegations and apologises to Marie and Rose Carthy for the hurt and distress these allegations have caused to them and for the damage to their good name and reputation."
Ms Justice Dunne struck out the proceedings brought by Rose and Marie Carthy and made certain agreed costs orders in favour of the Carthys.