Developer sues Economist magazine over article examining his link to African insurance dispute

By Mark Tighe From Sunday Time

Garrett Kelleher, an Irish developer, has filed defamation proceedings in the High Court against The Economist magazine over an article about a long-running Liberian insurance dispute in which he has become involved.

Kelleher, who was behind the failed Chicago Spire project and who owns St Patrick’s Athletic football club, has retained Paul Tweed, a Northern Ireland-based solicitor, to take the case.

Legal proceedings over the article, which was published online and in print last December, were filed in Dublin last Thursday. Under Irish law, defamation proceedings must be filed within one year of publication.

While the Economist Group is based in London, defamation law in Ireland is regarded as more plaintiff-friendly. Since a 2014 reform in England, there is a requirement for plaintiffs to show…

IMAGES

Garrett became involved in an insurance dispute in Liberia after loaning money to AJA, a Lebanese import firm REUTERS

Kelleher, right, owns St Patrick’s Athletic football clubKelleher, right, owns St Patrick’s Athletic football club DAVID MAHER/SPORTSFILE

For more on this story go to: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kelleher-in-liberian-legal-row-h08wllrgg