The publishers of journalist Sam Smyth's book, Thanks a Million Big Fella, apologised in the High Court yesterday for using a photograph on its front cover without the consent of the owner of the copyright.
The photograph featured former Taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey shaking hands with businessman Mr Ben Dunne, and was taken by the Photocall Picture Agency Ltd.
In court yesterday Mr Michael McDowell SC, for Folens Publishing Company, asked Mr Justice McCracken to strike out an action brought against his client by Photocall, of Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin.
Mr McDowell read an apology in which he said Folens acknowledged that "the electronic manipulation of photographs" on the cover of the book was done without the knowledge or consent of the agency.
Mr McDowell said his clients unreservedly apologised for the professional embarrassment caused to Mr Eamon Farrell, the photo-journalist who took the original picture and who is a director of the agency.
Photocall claimed the photograph was a faked version of the original, with the face of a former Fine Gael minister, Mr Michael Lowry, superimposed on to that of a bystander.