View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
October 19, 2011

Daily Mail in libel payout to Susan Boyle adviser

By PA Mediapoint

An adviser to singer Susan Boyle today accepted substantial libel damages from the Daily Mail over a claim that he was unfit to handle her affairs.

Retired accountant Ossie Kilkenny, a member of the International Board of Directors of Special Olympics, sued over a story which appeared in the Daily Mail in March last year.

Publication of the false allegations caused him acute distress and anxiety and were an unwarranted slur on his character and professional reputation, his solicitor, Nicholas Armstrong, told Mr Justice Tugendhat.

Mr Kilkenny – who at the time was one of Boyle’s managers – was referred to in an article headed “Family at war over Subo’s millions” which suggested that, because of doubts over his trustworthiness, he was unsuitable or unfit to be trusted to handle the singer’s affairs.

Associated Newspapers had now accepted this was untrue and clarified that it never intended to suggest that Kilkenny managed Boyle’s finances dishonestly, Armstrong said.

It had apologised and agreed to pay him substantial damages and reimburse his legal costs.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network