Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has apologised over a tweet he sent in relation to the Belfast rape trial verdict.
It comes after one of the defendants, Paddy Jackson, is set to take legal action against him.
Senator Ó Ríordáin posted commentary on his Twitter account following the verdict on Wednesday March 28th - it was subsequently deleted.
Paddy Jackson and the other three accused were acquitted of all charges against them.
In a tweet posted today, the Labour Senator said: "My tweet of 28 March concerning the Belfast rape trial was not designed or intended to suggest that either Paddy Jackson or any of the other accused men were guilty or that the jury got it wrong.
"I apologise for any suggestion to the contrary.
"I accept that I was not privy to all the evidence put before the jury during the trial.
"I will not be making any further comment".
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) April 9, 2018
Mr Jackson's lawyers issued a notice of intention to sue Mr Ó Ríordáin on March 30th.
