Gerry Hannan in court again

'Ku Klux Klan' jibe costs station €20,000

Published Date:
19 December 2007
By David Hurley
A BALLYNEETY man who was described as a "Ku Klux Klan type of character" on a pirate radio station was this Wednesday awarded damages of €20,000 after he successfully sued controversial broadcaster Gerry Hannan and the owner of the radio station, Gerard Madden.
Desmond Hayes of Robin Hill, Ballyneety sued both Mr Hannan and Mr Madden for libel following a broadcast on Radio Limerick One in March 2003.

At Limerick Circuit Court Judge Michael White was told the offending comments were broadcast during the Late and Live chat show on the evening of March 27, 2003.

In his evidence Mr Hayes, who is a former jockey, said he received a number of phone calls following the broadcast and he said he had stopped socialising since. "I felt very bad and I stopped going out, it was referred to everywhere I went," he said.

In his evidence Gerry Hannan alleged there had been an altercation between himself and Mr Hayes at his bookshop on William Street in the days before the broadcast. He claimed Mr Hayes was aggressive towards him because he had been banned from Radio Limerick One.

Following a five-hour hearing Judge White said he was satisfied Mr Hayes have been defamed by the comments contained in the broadcast.

The judge said he believed there were a number of people who would have thought less of Mr Hayes having heard the broadcast and he said in his view the damages amounted to €20,000.

He also ordered that the costs of Mr Hayes should be paid by Gerry Hannan and Gerard Madden.