Court overturns libel award over restaurant review

Belfast High Court has ordered a retrial in the case of a newspaper's appeal against a €25,000 libel award over a restaurant review.

The award was made to the owner of a pizza restaurant in west Belfast after a jury found an Irish News food critic's review defamatory.

There has been worldwide interest in this case because of its potential to affect all reviews - dramatic, musical and culinary - in the future.

Until now, adverse reviews printed in newspapers or broadcast have been deemed fair comment and a defence against libel.

However, in January, a Belfast jury found in favour of a restaurant owner who claimed a review was defamatory, awarding him €25,000.