The outcome of an internal investigation into an alleged brawl in the Sunday Independent news-room will not be made public, a spokesman for Independent Newspapers (Ireland) has said.
Sunday Independent editor Mr Aengus Fanning was alleged to have attacked operations editor Mr Campbell Spray on Friday, punching him and wrestling him to the ground.
It is understood the newspaper's management held meetings all day yesterday to establish what happened. Witnesses to the alleged incident were interviewed yesterday morning and asked for their version of events.
This is understood to have been followed by separate interviews with Mr Spray, accompanied by an NUJ representative, and Mr Fanning.
The spokesman for Independent Newspapers (Ireland) said the company would not be commenting on yesterday's meetings. "The results of this investigation will be conveyed to the parties concerned," he said.
The spokesman said he could not say who was present at yesterday's series of meetings. "The issue is an internal one which will be resolved internally and we will not be commenting publicly on its outcome."
It is understood the alleged incident arose out of a telephone conversation between the two men. The conversation was said to have developed into an argument, and witnesses said Mr Fanning then confronted Mr Spray in the news-room.
This comes 13 weeks after the Employment Appeals Tribunal finished hearing a case taken against the newspaper by its former crime correspondent, Ms Liz Allen.
Ms Allen claimed she was constructively dismissed from the Sunday Independent. She alleged that bullying and harassment by editorial staff had caused her ill health and forced her to resign last September. Judgment was reserved in the case.
