Bruno gets £50,000 libel damages

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6038522.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Boxing legend Frank Bruno and his girlfriend have accepted £50,000 damages after a newspaper made false claims about the pair's relationship.

The People newspaper wrongly alleged that Bruno split up with Yvonne Clydesdale days before she was due to give birth, London's High Court heard.

It also implied that Bruno, 44, acted in a cold and heartless manner, the boxer's advocate Magnus Boyd said.

MGN Limited accepted the story was untrue and apologised, Mr Boyd said.

The 1995 world heavyweight title winner and his girlfriend, the mother of his three-month-old daughter, were not at the hearing.

Sensitive time

Outside court, Mr Boyd confirmed that the damages were to be split equally between the couple.

During the hearing, Mr Boyd said that the articles also alleged that Bruno had branded Miss Clydesdale a gold-digger.

Mr Boyd said Miss Clydesdale was very heavily pregnant at the time of publication and added that the timing of the allegations caused both claimants distress at an extremely sensitive time.

He said MGN now accepted that the allegations were untrue and had agreed to pay costs.