A newspaper has begun an appeal against a £25,000 fine imposed when a jury found a restaurant review to be defamatory.

The Irish News, which is published in Belfast, appeared before Sir Brian Kerr, Northern Ireland’s Lord Chief Justice, and two other appeal court judges in an attempt to overturn the finding.

Lord Lester, QC, for the newspaper, said that the review had been “written in good faith and without malice. It was honest, critical and valued judgment by a food critic about her visit to the restaurant. Although it was a food review, it could also have been a review by a theatre or film critic.”

Caroline Workman, a food writer and restaurant critic, had criticised the the food, drink and staff at Goodfellas Restaurant and Pizzeria, West Belfast, in a review in 2000. Ciaran Convery, the owner of the Italian restaurant, sued. A jury at Belfast High Court agreed that the review was defamatory, damaging and hurtful.

Lord Lester said a distinction had to be drawn between a news report and a review. The case is expected to run for two days, with the judges reserving judgment until a later date.

Explore Food & Drink

• Gordon Ramsay

• Heston Blumenthal

• Recipes

• Wine

• Real Food

• Anjum Anand

• Eating Out

• Video Recipes

Times Recommends

• How to season a wok
• Chicago Rib Shack hits back at its critics
• Gordon Ramsay: Indian barbecue