The question is part of a current appeal by the Sunday World newspaper, which is seeking to reverse a £50,000 libel award to a Co Down businessman it referred to as a “Scrooge”.

Gavin Millar QC, a London-based barrister, is heading up the Sunday World’s appeal against a judgment in favour of 84-year old Gordon Coulter, who won his action over the newspaper’s coverage of the failure of his hotel business in December 2014.

Mr Coulter claimed the Sunday World had portrayed him as heartlessly sacking staff during a temporary closure of the Kilmorey Arms in Kilkeel and branded him “a Scrooge for putting his staff on the street a week before Christmas”.

In August, Mr Justice Stephens ruled it was a serious libel of a businessman who had no other option but to put the company into administration, and awarded him £50,000 damages.

As part of its defence, the Sunday World has denied it was libellous to refer to someone as “a Scrooge” and that it should be taken within the context of a quote from a former employee.

The appeal continues.