 Reynolds was involved in a long-running libel action against British newspaper The Sunday Times, over an article published in 1994, which alleged that Reynolds had deliberately and dishonestly misled the Dáil regarding matters in connection with the Brendan Smyth affair that brought down the coalition government.The newspaper claimed a defence of qualified privilege with regard to these assertions on the basis of their supposed benefit to the public, but a High Court jury found in favour of Reynolds in 1996.The jury recommended that no compensation at all be paid to the former Taoiseach.