The High Court has given judgment on preliminary issues in a libel claim brought by presenter and journalist Jeremy Vine against Joey Barton, the former professional footballer and manager.
A preliminary issue trial was held on 9 May 2024 before Steyn J to determine the natural and ordinary meaning of 12 posts on X, a hashtag that became a UK trending topic on X, and a post on the “GoFundMe” platform, as well as whether the meanings found were statements of fact or opinion, and whether they were defamatory of Mr Vine at common law.
In a judgment handed down today, the Judge ruled that nine of the 14 publications sued on conveyed meanings defamatory of Mr Vine at common law, as did parts of a tenth publication. All except parts of one of those 10 were statements of fact rather than opinion. Nine of the 10 publications included the allegation that Mr Vine has a sexual interest in children, an allegation which Mr Barton has publicly disavowed in the proceedings.
5RB’s Gervase de Wilde and Luke Browne act for the Claimant, instructed by Samuels Solicitors LLP.