The highest award ever recorded in the history of libel cases in Ireland has been awarded to businessman Denis O'Brien by the High Court in his case against the Mirror Group of Newspapers over an article published in the Irish Mirrorin 1998.
Mr O'Brien was awarded damages of €750,000 by a jury of five women and six men.
The articles, published over three pages, alleged Mr O'Brien had paid £30,000 to Ray Burke for the purpose of securing a licence to broadcast for the 98FM radio station.
The Mirror had admitted the article in question was untrue and defamatory of Mr O'Brien and the case was before the court only to assess the amount of damages to be paid.
However, Mr O'Brien had previously been awarded a sum of €250,000 over the case but the award had been overturned by the Supreme Court which found that amount to be "disproportionately high".
Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne ordered immediate payment of the €250,000 but put a stay on the rest of the award, pending a possible appeal.
against the Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd, the then editor in chief of the Daily Mirror, Piers Morgan and the then editior of the Irish Mirror Neil Leslie arising from an article published on June 10th, 1998.