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$100M Libel Suit vs. Roberts Rinehart on Conspiracy Book
Calvin Reid -- 6/22/98
Two prominent Northern Irish businessmen have filed a $100-million libel suit against Sean McPhilemy, author of The Committee: Political Assassination in Northern Ireland, and his publisher, Roberts Rinehart, over allegations in the book that the two men, who are brothers, are members of a secret, state-sanctioned Irish Protestant organization that arranged the murders of more than 30 Irish Republicans and Catholics beginning around 1989.
The suit was filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court by David and Albert Prentice against the Colorado-based Roberts Rinehart, which specializes in books on Ireland and Irish affairs. It charges McPhilemy and RRP with libel, invasion of privacy and the infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiffs complain that McPhilemy's allegations are false and that they are "not now, nor have they ever been, members of a murder conspiracy." Because of British and Irish libel laws, the book has not been published in either country.

Jack Van Zandt, CEO of RRP, told PW that he stands by the book's claims and declared that the company would fight the lawsuit. "We've checked everything. We've got videotapes, depositions and witnesses ready to testify. We have a mountain of evidence to support the book," said Van Zandt. After an initial printing of 7500 copies, the book now has about 19,000 copies in print.

The author and publisher traveled to Washington, D.C., two weeks ago to present copies of the book and evidence supporting its claims to the House of Representatives' Ad Hoc Caucus on Irish Affairs, chaired by Rep. Peter King (N.Y.), and to New York Senator Patrick Moynihan.

William W. Taylor, attorney for the Prentices, told PW, "We will let the litigation speak for itself. My clients did not do any of the things that this book charges and we'll prove it in court."

In his book, McPhilemy claims to have discovered a long-rumored but officially denied secret organization of prominent Northern Irish citizens working in collusion with the Ulster police force to assassinate Irish Republicans and random Catholics and to launch reprisals against the Irish Republican Army. The Prentice brothers are among 24 people identified by McPhilemy -- along with senior members and officers of the Ulster police and security forces; prominent Protestant businessmen and clergy; members of the British secret service; and Unionist paramilitary assassins -- that formed the secret organization.

Van Zandt told PW that the book was developed from a controversial 1991 television documentary on the same subject that was also produced by McPhilemy, who is described by Van Zandt as an experienced and "highly respected" television journalist and documentary film producer in the U.K. "This book has got to be published in the U.S. because it can't be in Ireland. The truth must come out if there is ever to be a lasting peace," he declared.
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