Furious spat between Ana Gomes and media mogul shows no sign of ending
The furious spat between Portuguese businessman Mário Ferreira, and former MEP Ana Gomes, shows no sign of ending – with their legendary tussles back in court, yet again.
Yesterday, Mr Ferreira left Porto’s Bolhão Court telling reporters that Ms Gomes has said “so many stupid things” about him that he hopes she is convicted in this latest defamation action he has taken out against her, suggesting she should “get treatment”.
This court battle (the 4th) is over Mr Ferreira’s understanding that Ms Gomes linked him to drug trafficking. Ms Gomes has explained that she didn’t want to accuse Mário Ferreira of drug trafficking, but of money laundering, writes Lusa.
This latest ‘ugliness’ between the pair who have locked horns repeatedly in the past concerns a tweet published by Ana Gomes in 2021 alluding to an article in Expresso about Mário Ferreira’s investment in an aviation company.
Gomes stated that the Porto businessman wanted to “emulate” OMNI Aviação e Tecnologia – a company that saw 500 kilos (of drugs) seized from its aircraft in Brazil.
“Let’s hope she is convicted and comes to her senses and doesn’t continue to make false statements and lies, as is her habit”, said Ferreira as he left the court. “Her antics are so constant that I don’t know if anyone can take her seriously any more. I said that she suffers from hubris syndrome and that she should get treatment, that’s what I expect from the lady who should be old enough to have some sense”.
Asked if there was any possibility of the parties reaching an agreement – something suggested by the judge who called for “some imagination” on the part of the lawyers at the end of yesterday’s session – Mário Ferreira’s lawyer didn’t rule this out but imposed conditions.
“There’s a very simple way of making the deal, someone makes a false accusation, withdraws it and the deal is done. But you withdraw it, you don’t apologise, you say you didn’t mean to, you made a mistake, no. She withdraws it and retracts it,” said Rui Patrício.
According to Patrício, what’s at stake is simple: “It’s a slander about drug trafficking in private aviation, the rest is a flash in the pan, it’s the usual strategy of mudslinging to try to distract.”
Moments before, also outside the court, Gomes stressed: “I wasn’t attributing any connection to drug trafficking, I was raising suspicions that (Mário Ferreira) is a front man for unknown investors and that this is what allows him to have made large investments in various sectors”.
The former MEP admitted, however, that she may have been misinterpreted, denying that she went overboard: “I don’t admit that I went overboard, I admit that I have other interpretations, but I stand by my interpretation and I said it with all candour and all truth.” And in Gomes’ opinion, her comments fall under the right to ‘freedom of speech’.
Indeed, giving evidence at the trial, Ana Gomes accused Mário Ferreira of being a “front man for unknown investors” in money laundering operations, suggesting this was why he became involved in the aviation sector.
“I raised issues related to my knowledge of the lack of control at airports and aerodromes in relation to private civil flights. I wanted to warn about the possibility that private civilian aeroplanes, because of the lack of control, lend themselves to all kinds of criminality, namely money laundering,” she said, again outside the courtroom.
Mário Ferreira last took Ms Gomes to court (for aggravated defamation) in a case that was heard last year, and saw Ms Gomes condemned to paying thousands of euros in damages. She has since lodged an appeal.
Defamation in Portugal is still considered a crime, and in worst case scenarios, can lead to people being deprived of their freedom.
Ana Gomes is a regular political commentator for SIC Notícias (appearing on Sunday nights), a former candidate for president of the Republic, and long-time MEP specialising in exposing corrupt practices and social and politcal injustices.
A look at her ‘Twitter page’ (now ‘X’) shows Ana Gomes’ passion for speaking out remains undented. A recent post on the PSD’s AD alliance formed to fight the elections considers that “if the great star of the new AD is old leader Paulo Portas, the right will not go far“, referring to Portas’ involvement in Portugal’s ‘submarines controversy’. ND
Source material: LUSA
