Sir Van and Robin Swann settle defamation battle

Sir Van Morrison's long-running defamation battle with former Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann has been settled.

Mr Swann sued the singer for slander after Sir Van declared that the politician was “very dangerous” in front of an audience at Belfast’s Europa Hotel in June 2021.

Sir Van's on-stage criticism of Mr Swann came after his gigs at the hotel were cancelled as part of coronavirus restrictions.

In a separate action, Sir Van sued Mr Swann and the Department of Health over an opinion piece published in Rolling Stone magazine.

At the High Court in Belfast on Friday, the judge was told confidential resolutions had been reached in their competing and “potentially very costly” lawsuits.

Both actions had been due to get underway at the end of September.

It was announced on Friday that all proceedings have now been settled on confidential terms.