£25,000 bill for ‘Irish News’ as restaurant negative review found to be defamatory

A review of an Italian restaurant published in the Irish News newspaper has been found defamatory by a Belfast jury.

The newspaper, which was landed with a bill of £25,000 in damages, is to appeal the judgment.

Owner of the west Belfast ‘Goodfellas’ restaurant, Ciaran Convery, said the review was a "hatchet job". While the reviewer Caroline Workman said it was "completely honest".

A spokesman for the newspaper said "The outcome of this case raises profound questions involving the freedom of the press". Referring to a possible precedent, the National Union of Journalists called the result “disturbing”.

More at guardian.co.uk and at irishexaminer.com.