The parties in Qadir v Associated Newspapers Ltd have reached a settlement.
Former banker Irfan Qadir has reached a settlement with Associated Newspapers over the publication in the Mail on Sunday in 2011 of two articles which defamed him: “Bank of Scotland Director “drove us out with dogs”” and “Top banker named in mortgage fraud” case.
Mr Qadir has been paid substantial damages and an apology has been published in the Mail on Sunday. A statement in open court has also been read which recorded that the newspaper apologised for the allegations which it had made and acknowledged that it had agreed to pay substantial damages to Mr Qadir. At a preliminary hearing in October 2012 Mr Justice Tugendhat found that privilege defences raised by Associated Newspapers did not succeed and concluded that, even if they had, they would have been negated by the fact that the relevant journalist had misused the occasion of privilege.
For the full background to the case see Mail on Sunday Report privilege fails.
William Bennett was instructed for the Claimant by Hamlins LLP. Mark Warby QC and Adam Speker by Taylor Wessing LLP for the Defendant.