Jason Hayward, the president of the Bermuda Public Services Union, has issued a full apology for comments he made on television about Bob Richards, the Minister of Finance.

Mr Richards filed a lawsuit in June 2015 against Mr Hayward for defamatory remarks made on a paid ZBM broadcast on behalf of the People’s Campaign on May 11.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Hayward’s apology was read to the Supreme Court by his lawyer, Chen Foley, after which the case was discontinued by Mr Richards’s lawyer, Saul Froomkin QC.

The apology stated: “On 14th July, I was sued by the Minister of Finance, Bob Richards, in respect of statements made during the course of a broadcast sponsored by the People’s Campaign, including allegations of corruption, collusion and scandalous behaviour.

“My intention was to highlight concerns about aspects of the airport development as a representative of the People’s Campaign, not to deride the minister. It was never my intention to insult the minister or to cause the public to think less of him as a person. I unreservedly apologise to him if those words had that effect.”

Judge Stephen Hellman said: “I am glad the matter has resolved itself in a consensual way.”

Mr Richards, who was in court for the brief hearing, said he was “glad it’s over” and confirmed that he would be paying his own legal fees.

“To somebody with my responsibility for the public purse, allegations of this nature cannot go unanswered,” Mr Richards said.

“People need to have confidence in the management of the Government’s finances. We have done what we have had to do.”

He admitted that he wished the matter had been dealt with quicker, but acknowledged it probably could not have been.

Mr Hayward later told The Royal Gazette he had decided to settle because of the cost burden.

“The legal action can best be categorised as a strategic lawsuit against public participation,” Mr Hayward said.

“SLAPPs are described as lawsuits that are intended to censor, intimidate, and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defence until they abandon their criticism or opposition. Justice in this matter would have been awarded to the person with the heaviest pockets.

“I am glad this ordeal is over and I thank the community for all the support which they have given me throughout this process.”

Initially, Mr Richards had said that the public would foot the bill for the defamation action, but last September he pledged to personally pay his costs for the case.

In a statement at the time, Mr Richards said the matter, which led to a succession of objections from unions and other organisations, had become a distraction from “the real issues surrounding the case”.

Meanwhile, the People’s Campaign accused the Minister of Finance of suppressing free speech and freedom of expression in launching the defamation case.

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