A book by the former partner of the late RTÉ broadcaster Gerry Ryan may be sold today after a High Court action temporarily preventing its distribution was settled.
When We Dance, an autobiography by Melanie Verwoerd, was due to go on sale last week, but music promoter David Kavanagh, a friend of Mr Ryan, obtained a temporary injunction preventing its sale. He claimed he had been defamed in the book.
The court today was due to hear an application to continue that injunction, pending full hearing of Mr Kavanagh’s action.
Following talks, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy was told the matter was settled on the basis of a statement to be read out in court that, it was learned later, is being inserted into the books when they go on sale.
The statement, read by Declan Doyle SC, for Ms Verwoerd, said she was happy to acknowledge Mr Kavanagh was and remained a good friend of Mr Ryan. It was to Mr Kavanagh that Gerry turned for help shortly before his untimely death, the statement read.
Mr Kavanagh “indicated he would help in whatever way he could to alleviate the financial pressure on Gerry”, it said.
The statement added: “Melanie Verwoerd does not and never has suggested that Mr Kavanagh behaved in any way inappropriately on April 29th, 2010.”
Ms Justice Laffoy agreed to an application by Brian O’Moore SC, for Mr Kavanagh, that last week’s temporary injunction be vacated and no further order be made.
Mr Kavanagh, of Hatch Street, Dublin obtained the temporary injunction, under Section 33 of the Defamation Act 2009, restraining the publishers, Liberties Media Ltd, trading as Liberties Press, from selling, publishing or distributing the book.