A former Birmingham councillor was on the end of a verbal mauling from a judge yesterday who branded him pompous and "an interfering busy body".

District judge Richard Savage also labelled Tony Kennedy, a former contender for deputy leader of Birmingham's Labour group, as "patronising".

His criticisms came as Mr Kennedy lost a legal fight against political rival Councillor Martin Mullaney (Lib Dem Moseley & Kings Heath) who he claimed had published "malicious" information about him on an internet site.

Mr Kennedy, a former Aston councillor, said the comments about a scuffle outside a pub in Moseley two years ago had damaged his political, business and social standing.

At the end of a three-day hearing at Birmingham County Court yesterday, Mr Savage said: "During the course of the hearing, the claimant had a tendency to lecture the defendant in a patronising way. It seemed to be about how to behave in public office.

"Some people will see the claimant as an interfering busy body with a large amount of pomposity thrown in."

Mr Savage said the evidence presented by Mr Kennedy, who represented himself, did not show any financial losses were "a consequence of the allegations that have been made".

Mr Savage concluded: "For this reason the claim is to be dismissed."

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Kennedy, who had hoped to clear his name and win compensation from Coun Mullaney, said he was considering an appeal.

"The judge did not hear the evidence of those who witnessed the crucial movements and have provided written statements," he said.

"We look forward to it being corrected in the future."

Coun Mullaney, vice-chairman of Birmingham's planning committee, said: "This has been just a waste of time. It should never have gone to court. Mr Kennedy has been very silly."

The events at the heart of the dispute occurred on May 28 2004 when Mr Kennedy was drinking in the Prince of Wales pub.

Mr Kennedy, who was at the time standing for the Perry Barr ward in Birmingham's local election, got involved in an altercation with another pub regular, Jim Pendleton.

Mr Pendleton called the police and Mr Kennedy was arrested but never charged.

The court was told that a few days after the incident, Coun Mullaney published a note on an internet site saying "it appears Tony Kennedy will be arrested in connection with an assault in the Prince of Wales..."

He also later wrote that he understood Mr Kennedy had been barred from the pub adding: "My understanding is if he is barred from one pub he is barred from them all".

Mr Kennedy claimed the statements amounted to a "malicious falsehood" against his character and caused damage to his reputation.

He maintained it led him to lose in the local election of June 2004 and attempts to set up a new business as an independent consultant to developers suffered.

Mr Kennedy said a number of clients backed out of contracts because they feared he would not be able to lobby the planning committee effectively given Coun Mullaney's senior position on it.

He also alleged he began to receive calls from people asking him "to help out in fights".

Mr Kennedy was ordered to pay expenses of #60 to Coun Mullaney, for taxi rides to court, and #50 to Mr Pendleton for loss of earnings while giving evidence to the hearing.

At an earlier stage of the proceedings at the end of 2004, the legal dispute between the two was described as an "unseemly row" by another judge.