Libel win for hotelier accused of running brothel

A hotel owner has been awarded damages of €50,000 (£33,000) by a jury that decided a newspaper had falsely accused him of running a brothel. An article in the Sunday World in August 2004 alleged that Maryland was a colloquial term in Waterford for a brothel, prompting Vincent O'Toole, owner of the Maryland hotel in Waterford city, to sue the paper for libel. He said after his high court victory that had been vindicated, but added: "€50,000 - you would put that on a horse." Mr O'Toole was also awarded the costs of the three-day hearing. (Via Irish Independent)