A HIGH Court jury has awarded €80,000 damages to singer Johnny McEvoy and €100,000 to his manager Darren Farrell after finding they were defamed by a concert promoter and promotions company.
Both men had sued James McGarrity, Ramoan Avenue, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and his company JW Promotions of the same address.
Mr McEvoy, whose songs include the 1960s Number One hit Mursheen Durkin, and Mr Farrell, alleged defamation and malicious falsehood against Mr McGarrity.
They claimed the defendant and his company damaged their professional reputations by intentionally using Mr McEvoy’s name on promotional material for a tour to which he had not committed and by remarks in an e-mail sent to the Waterfront Theatre in Belfast.
Mr McGarrity and his company were not represented in court yesterday when the case was heard. In an affidavit of January 2011, Mr McGarrity denied he had used words which constituted defamation or malicious falsehood.
Yesterday, the jury of six men and six women told Mr Justice Éamon de Valera they had agreed to award €80,000 to Mr McEvoy and €100,000 to Mr Farrell.
Mr McEvoy, Seabourne View, Anchorage, Greystones, Co Wicklow, and Mr Farrell, Glencairn Walk, Leopardstown, Co Dublin, had claimed the actions of Mr McGarrity and his company portrayed them as being unprofessional, engaging in overcharging for their services and that they suffered damage to their reputations and suffered considerable distress and embarrassment.
The men claimed that in January 2010, Mr McGarrity sought to engage the services of Mr McEvoy for a “Best of Ireland” tour in June and July 2010 but was told by his manager Darren Farrell that he was unable to commit to the dates. A number of e-mails were exchanged between Mr McGarrity and Mr Farrell, where Mr McGarrity queried whether the singer would be able to perform at some of the venues. In an e-mail of January 22nd, 2010, Mr Farrell said his client could not take part in any tour dates due to prior commitments.