NSW: Police Minister s brother to sue newspaper

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2000
NSW: Police Minister s brother to sue newspaper

SYDNEY, April 6 AAP - The brother of New South Wales Police Minister Paul Whelan was
today given the go ahead by a judge to sue The Sydney Morning Herald over an article he
claims defamed him.

John Whelan, former president of the Labor Council of NSW, claims the article implied
he abused his position by arranging for trade union travel business to be directed to
a travel company in which his brother's wife was a director and shareholder.

Justice David Kirby decided a jury should rule whether it was defamatory.

Mr Whelan also claimed the article, published in August last year, implied he directed
union travel business to the travel company at the expense of trade union members.

But Justice Kirby said the article did not imply this and could not be put to a jury.

A date for the hearing before a jury is yet to be set.

AAP gl/sb/nmn

KEYWORD: WHELAN

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.