Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth

A High Court jury in Dublin found on Friday that Mr Mackin and Mr Booth were defamed in a press release issued in October 2016 in relation to a report they prepared on media ownership in Ireland.

Both lawyers, now of Belfast firm Phoenix Law, will receive around €411,750, including €270,000 in general damages and just under €142,000 in aggravated damages, according to RTÉ News.

In a statement, Johnsons Solicitors, which represented the two lawyers, said the press release at the centre of the proceedings “advanced serious and entirely baseless defamatory allegations against our clients” which “had no foundation whatsoever”.

The statement added: “The jury’s award of substantial damages, together with aggravated damages, delivers a public vindication of our clients’ reputation and professional standing.

“This outcome underscores the gravity of the defamatory allegations and reaffirms that such unfounded attacks on individuals who serve the justice system should not be tolerated.”