'Nob Nation' defamation case nears end
'Nob Nation' comedian Oliver Callan today apologised in the High Court for referring to a guesthouse in Waterford as a brothel.
The 84-year-old proprietor of Maryland House, Vincent O'Toole, is suing RTÉ for defamation in relation to the radio sketch which was aired on 'The Gerry Ryan Show' in August 2008.
The controversial 'Nob Nation' sketch features comedian Oliver Callan doing a guide to Waterford slang and stated that: "The Maryland is a byword in Waterford for prostitution although the original establishment has ceased trading."
Today the impersonator told the jury he believed when writing the skit that the Maryland was another district of the city that was synonymous with prostitution because of some establishment that had long since ceased to exist.
He said he had never heard of the guesthouse or its proprietor Vincent O'Toole and nor was he aware that the 84-year-old had won a libel action in 2007 against the Sunday World for a similar claim.
Callan said the sketch was an over-the-top comedic piece but agreed he had made a careless mistake.
He apologised to Mr O' Toole saying: "If he's been insulted by anything I directly said on the radio I'm very sorry for that."
All the evidence has now been heard in the case.
The jury will hear closing speeches in the High Court tomorrow.
