THE Sunday Times journalist who Mr Albert Reynolds claims libelled him, told the High Court in London yesterday that he had not spoken to Mr Reynolds or any Fianna Fail minister before writing the article.
Mr Alan Ruddock was giving evidence on the ninth day of the trial.
He told the court he did speak to Mr Fergus Finlay, Mr Dick Spring's adviser. Mr Finlay arrived in court as he was giving evidence, and is expected to give evidence today.
Mr Reynolds is suing the Sunday Times over an article published in its English edition on November 20th 1994 entitled "Goodbye Gombeen Man", which said, "a fib too far proved fatal for the political career of Ireland's peace maker and Mr Fixit". The Sunday Times is denying libel, pleading justification and qualified privilege.
Mr Ruddock said he had tried to speak to Mr Reynolds during the week of the fall of the government and had "followed the usual procedure", ringing up the government press office and the Fianna Fail press office.
"The guidance I was given was that he was going to say what he had to say in the Dail on Wednesday and Thursday," he said. Asked if he had tried to ring Mr Reynolds at home, he said. I suspect journalists from Ireland and all around the world would have been trying to contact him. I imagine they were all getting the same guidance."
Earlier, Mr Ruddock had told the court that he disagreed with aspects of the article written by Vincent Browne, which had been published in the Irish, but not the English, edition of the Sunday Times.
Lord Gareth Williams QC, for Mr Reynolds, read a passage from that article which said Mr Reynolds had been "furious" when he read the letter from Mr Eoghan Fitzsimons detailing the implications of the Duggan case, and that ministers were "shell shocked".
"That's what the Fianna Fail ministers said to Vincent Browne," said Mr Ruddock.
"Did he check it?" asked Lord Williams.
"Yes. I rejected the Fianna Fail ministers' version of events."
"Who did you check it with?" "Mr Browne, Mr Burns (another Sunday Times journalist), and Mr Finlay."
Lord Williams: "What did Mr Finlay say?"
Mr Ruddock: "My impression was that they (the Fianna Fail ministers) knew of the significance of the case on Monday and they [the Labour ministers] had been lied to."
"What did Mr Finlay say about Vincent Browne saying that they did not have the letter until after the Dail on Tuesday?"
"I came away after talking to Mr Finlay thinking that they thought they had been lied to."
Pressed on the version of events which appeared in the Irish edition of the paper, written by Vincent Browne, Mr Ruddock said: "I was perfectly aware of the Fianna Fail version of events and I chose to reject it."
Lord Williams asked him if, before rejecting it, he had asked Dr Michael Woods, who had a diary entry about the events, for his version. Mr Ruddock said no.
"Did you try to speak to Mr Spring?"
"No."
"To Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn?"
"No."
"To Noel Dempsey?"
"No."
"To Mr McCreevy?"
"No."
To anyone at all on the Fianna Fail side?"
"No, that role was given to Mr Browne."