Associated Newspapers Ltd, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail Online, today offered its unreserved apologies in court to Earl Spencer, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, for having published a false allegation about his treatment of his sister.
A statement in open court was read this morning before Mr Justice Nicklin, following settlement of the historian and author’s libel claim. The claim focused on a false allegation that the Claimant had refused his sister any accommodation on his estate, at a time when she needed refuge after the collapse of her marriage to HRH The Prince of Wales. The allegation had been published in articles in the Daily Mail on 14 January 2017 and on the Mail Online website on the date.
Following pre-action correspondence and the issue of proceedings, the publisher made an offer of amends pursuant to s.2 of the Defamation Act 1996, which Earl Spencer accepted.
In addition to apologising, Associated Newspapers confirmed to the Court that the allegations would not be repeated, and that it had agreed to publish an apology and correction, to pay damages, and to meet the Claimant’s legal costs.
5RB‘s James Price QC and Richard Munden (instructed by Fladgate) act for Earl Spencer; Alexandra Marzec (instructed by ACK Media Law) for Associated Newspapers.
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