NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith began defamation action against Ray Hadley today in the Supreme Court. Neither Hadley or Smith attended the hearing. Hadley is in hospital having tests for suspected pneumonia.

The defamation case relates to allegations aired on 2GB that link Smith with his former Catholic parish priest Father Finian Egan, who is facing 20 charges of child sexual abuse dating from the 1960s.

The court action concerns Hadley’s allegation that Smith told another priest that an alleged victim of Father Egan wanted $1 million from the church. Smith is on record saying he cannot remember making the comments.

The case was adjourned until December.

Hadley was not in court because he is in hospital undergoing tests for suspected pneumonia that he picked up while covering the Olympics in Britain.

On air this morning, fill in presenter Luke Grant told listeners Hadley is on leave this week for the tests and to support his daughter, who is doing her HSC this year.

When Hadley went through a rocky period in his marriage a few years ago, he promised to spend more time with his family. His support of his daughter is no doubt part of that commitment.

Unfortunately a graduation party he hosted at his Sydney home was marred by an alleged incident by one of the young guests, which is being investigated by police. In this week of HSC graduation parties, some Year 12 students are known to take end of school celebrations a little too far.