The claim brought by Wajed Iqbal against Associated Newspapers has concluded with the payment to him of substantial damages and the the reading of a statement in open court.
Mr Iqbal sued in regard to an article published by the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline published on 14 May 2017: Scandal of the mini-cab predators. It alleged that he was a “fixer” for cab drivers in Rochdale who were committing crimes against young girls. The article also alleged that he had been given a warning by his employer for alleged deficiencies in his working practices as a Licensing Officer.
William Bennett QC explained to Mr Justice Soole in a statement in open court that these allegations were false and had caused Mr Iqbal huge and continuing distress but that Mr Iqbal was nevertheless satisfied that Associated Newspapers had offered its sincere apologies to him for making the allegations and had acknowledged that they were false. A representative of the Defendant offered its sincere apologies to Mr Iqbal.
Links:
BBC News: Mail on Sunday to pay damages over false ‘fixer’ claims
Asian Image: Mail on Sunday to pay substantial damages over false ‘fixer’ allegations
5RB’s:
William Bennett QC and John Stables, instructed by Mark Lewis of Patron Law, acted for Mr Iqbal.
Desmond Browne QC, Alex Marzec and Aled Maclean-Jones, instructed by Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, acted for Associated Newspapers.
