Defamation case against Carrick-on-Suir solicitors has been settled, Dublin Circuit Court told

Exactly one month after completing her term of office as President of the Law Society, Carrick-on-Suir based solicitor Maura Derivan and her husband, Patrick, today settled a €50,000 defamation case taken against them by Carrick-on-Suir accountant Robert (Bobby) Fitzgerald.

Mark Harty SC, who appeared with barrister David Kearney and Beauchamps Solicitors for Mr Fitzgerald, told Dublin Circuit Civil Court that the case – running for the last 13 years – had been resolved and could be adjourned into the New Year for mention.

Asked by Judge Terry O’Sullivan if counsel required time for the reading out of any letter, Mr Harty said this would happen at the next hearing. No details of the settlement were divulged at the court hearing today. 

The Derivans practise as Derivan Sexton Solicitors at New Street, Carrick-on-Suir, and Bobby Fitzgerald is managing partner of Fitzgerald Fleming Long Accountants of Railway House, Cregg Road, also in Carrick-on-Suir.

A third defendant, Bernard Brophy, a plasterer by trade who lives at Owning Village, Piltown, county Kilkenny, had been joined to the proceedings. He was a client of the Derivans when a letter, the basis of the defamation proceedings, had been written by his solicitors in 2009.

Mr Fitzgerald sued the Derivans for defamation of character and negligent misstatement and breach of duty.

The case now stands adjourned into the New Year.

The legal costs in the proceedings, which have been in court on dozens of occasions, are expected to top the €100,000 mark.