A FORMER UTV senior editor has settled a libel action brought over his review of a controversial Irish presidential television debate.
Rob Morrison sued the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for defamation following its response to a report he co-authored into the RTE Frontline programme.
But proceedings were ended yesterday after a clarification and apology for any distress was published on the BAI's website.
Mr Morrison, a former head of news and current affairs at UTV, was commissioned by RTE to help review the contentious October 2011 broadcast.
At the time Sean Gallagher had been the frontrunner in the Irish presidential election race.
But the broadcast of a tweet from a bogus account claiming to represent rival candidate Martin McGuinness is believed to have dealt a huge blow to his chances of victory.
RTE asked Mr Morrison to carry out a review of editorial processes employed during the programme.
His final report, co-authored with a senior RTE executive, was published in November 2012.
Days later the BAI's compliance committee issued a statement calling on the broadcaster to release a working document on which the report was based.
It indicated this could provide a further insight into editorial failings.
Mr Morrison issued defamation proceedings against the BAI, claiming the statement called his integrity into question.
But the action at the High Court in Dublin has now been resolved following yesterday's clarification.
On its website the BIA said: "It was widely reported in the media that the statement of November 22, 2012 meant that the authors of the report deliberately omitted, withheld and/or suppressed and/or otherwise co-operated with RTE to cover up details of the editorial findings of the Frontline programme.
"The BAI never believed this to be the case, nor was it intended to suggest this and we apologise for any upset caused to Mr. Morrison arising out of the statement of 22nd November 22, 2012."
It added: "As part of the terms of settlement reached with Mr Morrison, the BAI is happy to make it clear that we believe that Mr Morrison (and his co-author) carried out an excellent, in-depth and considered examination of the programme.
"Given the thoroughness of their investigation, the BAI did not consider it was necessary to carry out a statutory investigation under Section 53 of the Broadcasting Act."
No further details of the terms of the settlement have been disclosed.
Mr Morrison's lawyer, Paul Tweed of Johnsons law firm, said: "My client is satisfied with the clarification published on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's website and that his legal proceedings have been resolved on mutually agreeable terms.
"We have no further comment to make."
