DESPITE flying in on Thursday to give evidence on behalf of the Sunday Times, the Labour party adviser, Mr Fergus Finlay, left London yesterday without taking the stand.
Mr Finlay appeared briefly in the High Court, but after talking to him, counsel for the Sunday Times, Mr James Price QC, indicated he would not be calling him.
Mr Price did not say why, but pointed out that Mr Reynolds's legal team had not called any supporting witnesses either.
Mr Finlay did not say why he was not giving evidence.
Meanwhile, one of the Sunday Times journalists named in the former Taoiseach's action against the newspaper was discharged yesterday.
Mr John Burns, whose byline appeared on articles written mainly by Mr Vincent Browne and Mr Alan Ruddock respectively, had given evidence on Thursday that his actual contribution to the articles as published was minimal.
"Your contribution does not contain any of the words complained of" said Lord Williams QC, counsel for Mr Reynolds. "So we will apply to the judge to discontinue the action against you as a personal defendant."