Restaurant review case goes to retrial

 A newspaper today won an appeal that overturned the awarding of £25,000 (€32,690) to a Belfast restaurateur over a critical review.

In a judgment that has implications for critics the world over, the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal ruled a jury that decided the restaurant had been defamed had been misdirected by the trial judge.

The Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice, Sir Brian Kerr, sitting with two appeal court judges, delivered a unanimous reserved judgment.

Sir Brian ordered a retrial, saying that although he thought a properly directed jury would have found in favour of the Irish News in Belfast he could not be certain.

It will be for restaurateur Ciarnan Converey to decide whether he wishes to pursue the case further.

Mr Convery, owner of Goodfellas pizza restaurant on Kennedy Way in west Belfast, sued the Irish News for libel over a highly critical review of his premises published in August 2000.

Restaurant critic Caroline Workman criticised the food quality, the staff and the smoky atmosphere of the premises.

The jury, hearing the case more than a year ago, agreed with Mr Convery that her review was defamatory, damaging and hurtful, and he was awarded £25,000 damages.

The newspaper appealed, claiming what had been said about the restaurant had been fair comment.

© 2008 ireland.com