Month: March 2019
29.03.19
Twitter and the Malicious Communications Act 1988
Two people have been arrested by South Yorkshire Police on suspicion of sending ‘malicious communications’ following a series of tweets to five MPs. The tweets were directed at Independent Group MPs Anna Soubry, Chuka Umunna, Angela Smith and Sarah Wollaston, and Labour MP David Lammy. It is alleged that one of the individuals posted an…
Read more21.03.19
Actress Tina Malone receives suspended sentence after breaching Venables/Thompson injunction
Actress, Tina Malone, has received an eight-month suspended prison sentence for purporting to publish a photograph and information relating to the new identity of Jon Venables – one of James Bulgar’s killers. Background In 1993 Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, at the time aged 10, were convicted of murdering two-year-old James Bulgar. It was a…
Read moreThe Criminal Caution: Can it still be relied on?
“You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence” Anyone questioned as a suspect of a criminal offence in England and Wales should hear and understand this…
Read moreSolicitor fined for loaning money to client at 60% interest
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (‘SDT’) has fined Richard Barca (of Wilson Barca LLP) £20,000 and ordered him to pay £26,000 in costs after regulatory proceedings were instigated against him for loaning £27,000, with an interest rate of 60% per annum, to a vulnerable client who stood to lose her property and livelihood. Mr Barca was…
Read more6.03.19
Brexiteer ordered to pay philosopher £20,000 in libel damages for paedophile tweet
Peter North, former UKIP parliamentary candidate and founder of the Brexit-supporting Leave Alliance, has been ordered to pay philosopher and academic AC Grayling £20,000 in libel damages after tweeting an allegation that Professor Grayling was in possession of child pornography. Facts Professor Grayling is an outspoken critic of Brexit. Mr North is an outspoken Brexiteer. On 10…
Read more4.03.19
Business expenses exceptions in Freezing Orders
In Michael Wilson & Partners v Emmott [2019] EWCA 219 the Court of Appeal reviewed the authorities on the question of the ‘Angel Bell’ exception in Freezing Orders. The Angel Bell exception exists to permit a Court to include provision in a Freezing Order to permit business to continue to trade in spite of the…
Read more1.03.19
An allegation of dishonesty – A statement of fact or the expression of opinion?
In a number of recent libel cases, the court has encouraged parties to apply prior to the service of a defence for a preliminary issue trial where the meaning of the words complained of is in dispute. Often, as part of such a hearing, parties will also seek the determination of other issues, such as…
Read moreLegal Disclaimer
Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.