CRANBERRIES - O'RIORDON FORCED TO PAY NANNY

A Judge has ruled CRANBERRIES singer DOLORES O'RIORDON and her husband must pay their former nanny $1,800 (€1,500/GBP1000).

Dublin High Court today (28APR04) ruled O'Riordon and DON BURTON must compensate JOY FAHY for personal belongings they failed to return to her after she left their employment - but Fahy failed in her bid to sue the couple for breach of contract and false imprisonment.

She claims the LINGER star and husband kept her captive at a remote Canadian holiday home and threatened to confiscate her passport after she raised concerns about the welfare of their baby son TAYLER.

JUDGE JONATHAN QUIRKE said that O'Riordan and her husband were exemplary parents who were devoted to their son Taylor and added that Fahy was a qualified and competent child-minder and her competence had not been challenged.

The former nanny, who worked for O'Riordan and Burton for a short period in 1999, had sued the couple for $15,300 (€12,700/GBP8,500), a CHEROKEE JEEP and the deposit for an apartment - but she insists she is happy with the verdict, and always donated any money she received to charity.

Afterwards, O'Riordan told reporters she felt relieved at the decision.