Everton manager David Moyes has today settled his libel claim against England footballer Wayne Rooney, writer Hunter Davies and publisher HarperCollins over allegations in Rooney’s autobiography.
‘Wayne Rooney – My Story So Far’, written by the footballer with Davies and published by HarperCollins in 2006, included a passage describing a private conversation between Mr Rooney and Mr Moyes in 2004 and stating that the details of that conversation were published in the Liverpool Echo newspaper the very next day.
Mr Moyes brought proceedings for defamation in November 2006, contending that the words meant that he had breached the trust and confidence placed in him by Rooney by leaking the story.
In an agreed statement in the High Court today before Mr Justice Eady, the defendants acknowledged that they were mistaken, withdrew the allegation, and apologised. Publishers HarperCollins agreed to pay Mr Moyes his legal costs and ‘a substantial sum in damages.’
5RB‘s Desmond Browne QC and Richard Munden (instructed by Herbert Reeves & Co and Davenport Lyons) advised Wayne Rooney, Hunter Davies and HarperCollins.
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