Pol Gets Irish Up After Radio Station Defames Her as 'Alco'

Image by Irish Typepad via FlickrIndependent Irish talk radio program, "Newstalk," got socked with a defamation judgment of 450,000 euros ($647,721), Website stinkyjournalism.org reports, from accounts in The Phoenix and The Journal, after commentator Nell McCafferty said on The Tom Dunne Show last year that former politico Mary Harney was an "alco."

McCafferty was unaware her conversation was picked up on a live mic when she said Harney, a former Minister for Health and Children and Tanaiste, had allegedly received treatment for alcohol addiction. Harney purportedly sued for 1 million euros ($1,439,381). An on-air apology by the station and an attempt by station owner Denis O'Brien to apologize to the plaintiff did not derail Harney's lawsuit.