Judgment was reserved in the Limerick Circuit Court yesterday in a defamation claim brought by Mr Gerard O'Neill, William Street, Limerick, solicitor to the Cranberries, against Mr James O'Donovan, accountant, Mountkennett Place, Limerick, who was acting as general financial adviser to Mr Fergal Lawlor, drummer with the Cranberries.
The case arose as a result of comments allegedly made by Mr O'Donovan involving Mr O'Neill at a meeting held on October 10th, 1996, between members of the band and Mr O'Donovan. They were stated to be discussing a proposed investment in a premises in Tallaght, Co Dublin, by Mr Lawlor. Mr O'Donovan denied the allegation and said the meeting was private and Mr O'Neill's name was never mentioned.
Mr O'Neill said he was upset that while the comments were not generally known, they had been reported to him and he asked Mr O'Donovan for an apology.