Helen's legal battles

The Herald is reporting that Auckland doctor Tony Bierre will drop a defamation action against former PM Helen Clark after she publicly acknowledged that he did not break the law. The story goes on to say:

Former Auckland District Health Board member Tony Bierre launched the defamation suit last year after Helen Clark made comments in March questioning whether he had broken the law by misleading the DHB over a controversial laboratory contract.

Dr Bierre received an open letter from Helen Clark yesterday acknowledging he did not commit an offence.

"In my comments I noted that I would be seeking a briefing as to whether your breaches were offences. They were not, as I learned and accepted shortly afterwards, and continue to accept," Helen Clark said.

"I trust that this letter, which is open and public, will resolve your concerns."

In a statement through his lawyer, Dr Bierre said he would end defamation proceedings.

"This letter vindicates my position that I have never broken the law," he said.

Of course, this didn't stop Clark and her Labour cronies from their smears against Bierre under cover of Parliamentary privilege right up to the dissolution of the last Parliament. In particular, Labour regularly used Dr Bierre's supposed wrongdoing to attempt to besmirch the reputation of National MP Dr Jackie Blue. So Clark's apology is taken with a grain of salt by Keeping Stock.

UPDATE: Adam Smith at The Inquiring Mind reminds his readers just who the Herald annointed with the title of Greatest Living New Zealander ...