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- Peace Pact
By MIKE TAYLOR
Press Association
Sisters Michelle and Lisa Taylor, cleared of murder two
years ago, today agreed a temporary peace pact in the
High Court with a man they accuse of selling confidential
information about them to the Press.
The women spent 11 months behind bars before the Court
of Appeal quashed their convictions of murdering young
bride Alison Shaugnessy, who was stabbed 54 times outside
her home in Battersea, south London, in 1991.
Michelle had earlier had a relationship with Alison's
husband, John. Nightclub bouncer Bernard O'Mahoney, who
corresponded with the sisters when they were in prison
and campaigned for their release, is being sued for alleged
breach of copyright and breach of confidence.
At a pending High Court hearing, Michelle, 24, and Lisa,
21, will seek injunctions against him. Meanwhile, Mr O'Mahoney,
34, of Basildon, Essex, pledged not to infringe their
copyright in any 'letters, notes, interview notes or other
literary works written or produced by either of them'.
He also undertook not to use information concerning the
sisters' private or family lives, or private conduct,
which was communicated to him in confidence. In return,
the sisters, of south London, agreed not to comment to
the Press about Mr O'Mahoney's relationship with them
or their family and friends.
They were in court today to hear their counsel, John Baldwin,
QC, tell Mr Justice Carnwath that the case arose out of
communications made by Mr O'Mahoney to the News of the
World, which were published on May 28.
The story was picked up by the South London Press and
a further article appeared in the Daily Star. Gavin Millar,
for Mr O'Mahoney, said that, although a 'truce' had been
called today, 'it is a truce in a war which my client
was not actively waging'.
The newspaper articles were not instigated by Mr O'Mahoney,
he said, and his undertakings today were without prejudice
to 'a whole series of contentions in the case, both in
fact and in law', including his denial that he possessed
any documents which could give rise to complaint.
Mr Baldwin replied that the sisters did not accept there
was a truce because there was no 'war'. The case arose
solely from of Mr O'Mahoney's conduct. No date was set
for the full hearing, expected to last a day. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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