Three men who were witnesses in the trial of Catherine Nevin five years ago for the murder of her publican husband in Co Wicklow have settled their High Court actions alleging they were libelled in three newspapers published by Independent Newspapers.
The libel actions were brought by Gerard Heapes, St Nicholas Village, Mornington, Co Meath; John Jones, The Chantries, Balrothery, Balbriggan, Co Dublin and William McClean, of Harold's Cross Road, Dublin.
Mr Heapes sued over a front page publication in the Evening Herald, of January 25th, 2000.
Together with the two other men, he also sued over reports in the Irish Independent of February 24th, 2000 and the Sunday Independent of March 5th, 2000.
Yesterday, on the third day of the hearing and following a morning of negotiations, Mr Cooney told Mr Justice de Valera and the jury that the case was settled.
Eoin McCullough SC, for Independent Newspapers, then read a statement.
The statement said that Independent Newspapers acknowledged that the three men "are not now and never were hired killers or hitmen and it was never intended to suggest the contrary". The statement added: "Independent Newspapers regret any hurt or distress caused to the plaintiffs and their families."
When opening the actions, counsel for the three men, Garrett Cooney SC told Mr Justice de Valera and a jury that Catherine Nevin was accused of murdering her husband, Tom Nevin, at Jack White's Inn, Co Wicklow in March 1996.
She was also accused of soliciting Mr Heapes, Mr Jones and Mr McClean to commit the murder.
Mr Cooney submitted the defamation arose out of the way the newspapers had referred to his clients in the course of the Nevin trial.
Mr Cooney said Nevin had been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury.
That jury had been satisfied on the evidence that Nevin had arranged for somebody who was never identified to carry out the murder.
Nevin had approached the three men on different occasions and asked them if they were prepared to murder her husband, counsel said.
The three had rejected her solicitations and, following Mr Nevin's death, they gave statements to gardaí.
Independent Newspapers had denied libel.