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| Estate agent wins newspaper libel | Estate agent wins newspaper libel |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Belfast estate agent cleared of money laundering has won libel damages over unfounded newspaper claims which may have linked him to a murdered loyalist. | A Belfast estate agent cleared of money laundering has won libel damages over unfounded newspaper claims which may have linked him to a murdered loyalist. |
| Philip Johnston got an apology from the Sunday World's publishers in a settlement at the NI High Court. | Philip Johnston got an apology from the Sunday World's publishers in a settlement at the NI High Court. |
| Mr Johnston was arrested in April 2005 as part of an inquiry into the affairs of ex-UDA chief Jim Gray. The charges were dropped in August 2006. | Mr Johnston was arrested in April 2005 as part of an inquiry into the affairs of ex-UDA chief Jim Gray. The charges were dropped in August 2006. |
| His barrister said the paper accepted the claims were "without foundation". | His barrister said the paper accepted the claims were "without foundation". |
| Mr Johnston sued over an article which appeared in the Sunday World in September 2006. It included claims that an estate agent provided the keys for a safe house Gray used to hide a killer. | Mr Johnston sued over an article which appeared in the Sunday World in September 2006. It included claims that an estate agent provided the keys for a safe house Gray used to hide a killer. |
| Mr Johnston categorically denied any connections with the former UDA leader, who was murdered in October 2005 while out on bail charged with money laundering and possessing the proceeds of crime. | Mr Johnston categorically denied any connections with the former UDA leader, who was murdered in October 2005 while out on bail charged with money laundering and possessing the proceeds of crime. |
| Jim Gray was murdered outside his father's house in October 2005 | Jim Gray was murdered outside his father's house in October 2005 |
| A statement read out in court on Wednesday said the article may have inferred that the estate agent had been involved in paramilitary and other criminal activity. | A statement read out in court on Wednesday said the article may have inferred that the estate agent had been involved in paramilitary and other criminal activity. |
| Mr Johnston's barrister said: "The defendants unreservedly accept that any such allegations were totally without foundation and should never have been published in the first place. | Mr Johnston's barrister said: "The defendants unreservedly accept that any such allegations were totally without foundation and should never have been published in the first place. |
| "The defendants also acknowledge that the allegations were published at a particularly distressing time for Mr Johnston and they unreservedly apologise to him, and have agreed to compensation him for the further damage unjustifiably inflicted upon his reputation." | "The defendants also acknowledge that the allegations were published at a particularly distressing time for Mr Johnston and they unreservedly apologise to him, and have agreed to compensation him for the further damage unjustifiably inflicted upon his reputation." |
| Although the amount paid out in the settlement was not disclosed, it is understood to be a five figure sum. | |
| Outside the court, Mr Johnston - who has returned to the business after being forced to sell off six offices - said both the criminal and libel proceedings had been very traumatic. | Outside the court, Mr Johnston - who has returned to the business after being forced to sell off six offices - said both the criminal and libel proceedings had been very traumatic. |
| He said the damage caused to him when he was arrested in April 2005 was intensified by the newspaper allegations after the charges were dropped. | He said the damage caused to him when he was arrested in April 2005 was intensified by the newspaper allegations after the charges were dropped. |
| "I plan to get on with my life now," he said. | "I plan to get on with my life now," he said. |
| "I have been back in the estate agency business over a year now and can hold my head up high and keep the business afloat." | "I have been back in the estate agency business over a year now and can hold my head up high and keep the business afloat." |
| Mr Johnston also confirmed that further legal proceedings against others were under way. | Mr Johnston also confirmed that further legal proceedings against others were under way. |
| His lawyer also said the case was never about cash. | His lawyer also said the case was never about cash. |
| He said Mr Johnston was very satisfied with "what is a very comprehensive apology and retraction of these defamatory inferences". | He said Mr Johnston was very satisfied with "what is a very comprehensive apology and retraction of these defamatory inferences". |
| "Philip now hopes to get on with his life and put this unfortunate matter behind him," he said. | "Philip now hopes to get on with his life and put this unfortunate matter behind him," he said. |
| The money is to be donated to the autism charity SPEAC. | The money is to be donated to the autism charity SPEAC. |