Estate agent wins newspaper libel

Philip Johnston had to sell off a number of his offices

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.

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".

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.

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.

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."

It is thought Mr Johnston received damages in the region of £10,000.

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.

"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."

Mr Johnston also confirmed that further legal proceedings against others were under way.

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".

"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.