Sherwin faces massive legal costs after jury libel award of only £250

The Fianna Fβil national organiser, Mr Sean Sherwin, is facing massive legal costs following the decision by a High Court jury to award minimal damages to him in a libel case brought against the Sunday Independent.

However, Mr Sherwin is considering an appeal against the derisory sum of £250 awarded to him in the case which involved the developer, Mr Tom Gilmartin. Legal costs in the 10-day hearing are estimated at over £500,000.

Mr Justice O'Sullivan originally announced the award as £250,000, but quickly corrected his error.

Mr Sherwin (54) had claimed that he was libelled in an article in the newspaper in February 1999. He claimed the article meant he wrongfully solicited money from Mr Gilmartin for his sister-in-law, Ms Catherine Sherwin, who stood as a candidate in local elections.

After six hours of deliberation, the jury agreed that the article in the newspaper in February 1999 meant he had wrongfully solicited money, and that it was untrue. It rejected four other claims made by Mr Sherwin about the article.

Both Mr Sherwin and the newspaper claimed victory after the jury's decision. Mr Sherwin said his good name and reputation had been vindicated. He had taken the case as a private citizen and had not been influenced in any way by Fianna Fβil, he said in a statement read outside the court. He described the case as a big ordeal and stressed "it was never about money".

Mr Michael Roche, managing editor of Independent Newspapers, said the jury had found the article defamatory in only one matter. "It is with the greatest regret that such costs and expenses had to be incurred over a three-week period to enable the Sunday Independent to substantially vindicate its article," he said.

The author of the article, Jody Corcoran, paid tribute to Mr Gilmartin and said he looked forward to the developer's evidence at the Flood tribunal.

The Fianna Fβil press office declined to comment on the outcome. It also declined to comment on an allegation made by Mr Corcoran during the trial that party representatives had "contrived" evidence.