Beverley Flynn - Libel Action

Libel Action

RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird claimed in a report that while an employee of National Irish Bank Flynn had assisted clients of the bank in evading tax by funnelling undeclared income to Clerical Medical schemes based in the Isle of Man. Flynn denied the claims and sued RTÉ, Bird and retired farmer James Howard for libel in the High Court in 2001. The jury found that although RTÉ had not proved its case (it was a different employee that had handled Howard's account), the allegations were found to be substantially true (that RTÉ had proved Flynn had encouraged others to avail of illegal investment schemes). Thus, despite Flynn technically winning the case, she was awarded no damages (as her reputation was not materially damaged), along with costs being awarded against her. Flynn then appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of Ireland, where she lost.