Five young school children whose images were used without permission in the Oscar-nominated documentary, Deliver Us From Evil, about American paedophile priest Oliver O'Grady, have had settlements totalling more than $96,540 (Eu62,500) approved by the Dublin Circuit Civil Court.

The children's parents had sued director Amy Berg and Disarming Films, both represented by Beverly Hill-basd Endeavor; Lionsgate Entertainment, Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, California and Warrenmount Primary School for breach of privacy.

The 2006 documentary details the history of cleric Oliver O'Grady as a serial child abuser in California. After serving a seven-year sentence he was deported to Ireland where he was interviewed by the film makers.

Counsel for the five primary school pupils told the court that their solicitors had succeeded in having pictures of the children removed from releases of the film in Ireland and the United States and worldwide DVD releases.

'Unfortunately footage of the children, some as young as five, was used in a trailer of the film which was available for some time on the internet in which the children were identifiable,' counsel for the children said in court.

Counsel told the court that solicitors for the children had negotiated settlements which ranged from Euros 10,000-20,000 depending on how much each child had been featured in the film and as to the level of identification of the child.

Justice Matthew Deery, President of the Circuit Court, approved of the settlement awards against all four defendants but it was learned afterwards that the school had been granted a full indemnity by the US defendants.

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