Cooper-Flynn to appeal libel action ruling

Mayo TD Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn is to appeal the verdict of her libel action against RTÉ, Mr Charlie Bird and retired farmer Mr James Howard.

Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn

She announced her decision to appeal the High Court action in a brief statement today. The appeal will be heard in the Supreme Court.

In a lunchtime interview with Midwest Radio, Ms Cooper-Flynn said she had decided weeks ago to challenge the High Court ruling after she and her legal team realised she had grounds for appeal.

"I did come to the decision some weeks ago but I wanted to finalise matters with my legal team. We have done that and the decision has been taken and we have lodged the appeal as of today," she told reporter Ms Teresa O'Malley.

Ms Cooper-Flynn expects the appeal to be heard at the end of this year or early in the next and added: "I look forward to that happening".

She also expressed her disappointment with the decision to remove her from the Fianna Fail parliamentary party - pending the outcome of any appeal.

"I have always felt and I believe it is the right of every citizen that you are entitled to due process. It was my right as a citizen of this State to appeal the outcome of my case and I had hoped at the time that the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party would have waited until I had taken that decision."

Ms Cooper-Flynn said she has no doubt she will remain as a Fianna Fáil candidate for the next election.

It was my right as a citizen of this State to appeal the outcome of my case and I had hoped at the time that the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party would have waited until I had taken that decision. Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn

"The Fianna Fáil party have already taken the decision in County Mayo. They took it last December when they picked me as one of their candidates to run in the next general election. I see no reason for that to change."

Ms Cooper-Flynn faces a legal bill close to £2 million following a High Court ruling on April 5th that she was liable for the costs of all sides in her case against RTÉ, Mr Charlie Bird and Mr James Howard.

Ms Cooper-Flynn (34) sued RTÉ; journalist Charlie Bird and retired farmer Mr James Howard for libel. The 28-day hearing was the longest libel trial in the history of the State.

On March 23rd the High Court jury decided RTÉ had proved Ms Cooper-Flynn had advised or encouraged a number of persons to evade tax, but they also found the defendants, RTÉ, Charlie Bird and Mr James Howard had not proved the TD had induced Mr Howard to evade tax.

As a result of the High Court ruling Ms Cooper-Flynn resigned from the Public Accounts Committee on the 26th of March.

Ms Cooper-Flynn was then expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on April 11th by an overwhelming majority after a four-hour party meeting.

Inability to pay the costs to date or future costs would open up the prospect of bankruptcy proceedings. Should she be declared bankrupt, Ms Cooper-Flynn automatically forfeits her Dáil seat.