The Irish Daily Mirror has apologised to former Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey over two articles it published about the so-called "swing gate" controversy.
The High Court was told this morning that the case had been settled and an apology was read out in court on behalf of the newspaper.
Ms Bailey took a personal injuries case against the Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street in Dublin after a fall from a swing in 2015 but later withdrew the proceedings.
In its apology, the Irish Daily Mirror said in two articles published in 2019 the newspaper accused Maria Bailey of mounting a "dodgy" insurance claim and of "telling fibs" in relation to her injuries.
It said: "We accept that these allegations were false. We are happy to clarify the position and apologise to Maria Bailey for the distress caused."
Speaking afterwards, an emotional Ms Bailey said she was "very happy to receive the apology" saying "it has been a long time coming after a difficult few years".
She thanked her immediate and extended family for their "unwavering support" when, she said, they "were greatly affected themselves by everything that surrounded this situation".
She said her father had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and "it was a difficult time for my family, I didn't have the capacity to deal with the situation and that's when my dad's good friend Brendan Brady and Dairine stood in and never left my side, even today, and I know without them I wouldn't even be standing here today".
She thanked her legal team, Declan Doyle SC, Jennifer Goode BL, and her solicitor Eamonn Denieffe.
Judge Tony O'Connor agreed to strike out the proceedings and made no further order.
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