The Scottish Daily Record has settled out of court with Celtic footballer Neil Lennon over articles following a players’ Christmas night out in Newcastle.
The Record published a prominent apology and it has agreed to pay Lennon damages and legal costs.
It is understood the damages agreed upon is around £25,000.
In its edition of 20 December, 2002, the Record carried several articles concerning events, involving several Celtic players, which took place outside a nightclub in Newcastle.
In its apology, the Record said: “We regret this article alleged that it was highly likely Neil Lennon had pursued and robbed a Daily Record photographer of £12,000 worth of equipment.
“We accept this allegation was without foundation and we apologise sincerely and unreservedly to Mr Lennon for the distress and anxiety caused to him.”
Lennon had decided to pursue Scotland’s top-selling daily newspaper through the English courts as he believed he would get a more sympathetic hearing to a libel action south of the border than in the Scottish courts.
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