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Defamatory review outcome quashed

A jury verdict that a restaurant review in the Irish News was libellous has been overturned by Judges at the Belfast Court of Appeal.

Ciaran Convery, owner of the ‘Goodfellas’ restaurant, had said the review was a "hatchet job," he was quoted by the Guardian as saying yesterday: "In my eyes it makes a farce of the judicial system when a jury is overturned... It's not over yet. It was never about the damages anyway."

The appeals court left the option of a retrial open, but it is up to Convery to pursue one, and the Irish News has said they will defend any further action.

MORE: At the Guardian (free) or at the Irish Times (subs reqd)

Libellous newspaper restaurant review case to be appealed this week in Belfast

The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland will hear the case of restaurant review which was said to be defamatory by a jury last year.

The review of the ‘Goodfellas’ Italian restaurant in west Belfast was published in the Irish News newspaper in 2000.

Last February, £25,000 in damages was awarded against the newspaper to restaurant owner Ciaran Convery, who said the review was a "hatchet job".

Meanwhile, the reviewer, Caroline Workman, said it was "completely honest", the Irish News said the case "raises profound questions involving the freedom of the press", while the NUJ called the result “disturbing”. The appeal is due to be heard on Wednesday. (Via Greenslade)

£25,000 bill for ‘Irish News’ as restaurant negative review found to be defamatory

A review of an Italian restaurant published in the Irish News newspaper has been found defamatory by a Belfast jury.

The newspaper, which was landed with a bill of £25,000 in damages, is to appeal the judgment.

Owner of the west Belfast ‘Goodfellas’ restaurant, Ciaran Convery, said the review was a "hatchet job". While the reviewer Caroline Workman said it was "completely honest".

A spokesman for the newspaper said "The outcome of this case raises profound questions involving the freedom of the press". Referring to a possible precedent, the National Union of Journalists called the result “disturbing”.

More at guardian.co.uk and at irishexaminer.com.