Northern Ireland

Stephen Nolan ends legal action against The Irish News

The case arose following reports published by the paper in August of last year

BBC presenter Stephen Nolan
BBC presenter Stephen Nolan

BBC broadcaster Stephen Nolan has ended legal action he was taking against The Irish News and journalist Rodney Edwards.

The case arose following reports published by the paper in August of last year.

A joint statement said: “We are pleased to confirm that Stephen Nolan’s legal action against the publishers of The Irish News and the journalist Rodney Edwards has been resolved on mutually satisfactory terms.

“All the parties agree that a dispute between journalists, each of whom is very respected in their own fields, is undesirable for everyone concerned.

“Mr Nolan acknowledges that The Irish News is entitled to report on matters which are in the public interest, including issues linked to the BBC, fairly and accurately.

“The Irish News, for its part, accepts that at no stage did Mr Nolan or other BBC figures attempt to engage in the manipulation of audiences during his television programme.

“Both sides agree that press freedom is an essential element of any democratic society.”