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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Lord McAlpine drops some Twitter defamation cases | Lord McAlpine drops some Twitter defamation cases |
| (7 months later) | |
| Lord McAlpine is ending his legal pursuit of hundreds of Twitter users over false allegations linking him to child sex abuse in return for donations to Children In Need. | Lord McAlpine is ending his legal pursuit of hundreds of Twitter users over false allegations linking him to child sex abuse in return for donations to Children In Need. |
| In a statement on Thursday, the former Conservative party chairman said he was drawing a line under potential legal actions against Twitter users with fewer than 500 followers – but vowed to focus on claiming libel damages from Sally Bercow, the wife of the Commons speaker, over her allegedly defamatory tweets. | In a statement on Thursday, the former Conservative party chairman said he was drawing a line under potential legal actions against Twitter users with fewer than 500 followers – but vowed to focus on claiming libel damages from Sally Bercow, the wife of the Commons speaker, over her allegedly defamatory tweets. |
| "Whilst I reached a settlement last year with both the BBC and ITV, I would like to now draw this unfortunate episode, forced into my life, to a close," said McAlpine. | "Whilst I reached a settlement last year with both the BBC and ITV, I would like to now draw this unfortunate episode, forced into my life, to a close," said McAlpine. |
| "I have dropped all claims against those tweeters with less than 500 followers, in return for a very modest donation to BBC Children In Need, which funds 2,600 projects supporting disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. | "I have dropped all claims against those tweeters with less than 500 followers, in return for a very modest donation to BBC Children In Need, which funds 2,600 projects supporting disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. |
| "I have requested that my lawyers, RMPI LLP, focus on the action against Sally Bercow and that damages arising from this are donated to a charity of her choice. I am not intending to make any further comment on this matter." | "I have requested that my lawyers, RMPI LLP, focus on the action against Sally Bercow and that damages arising from this are donated to a charity of her choice. I am not intending to make any further comment on this matter." |
| McAlpine has described how he was "consigned to the lowest circle of hell" by the mass Twitter libel, which was sparked by the BBC's disastrous Newsnight report on 2 November 2012. Although the BBC2 programme did not name McAlpine, it prompted a guessing game on social networks that led to the peer being falsely tarred as a paedophile. | McAlpine has described how he was "consigned to the lowest circle of hell" by the mass Twitter libel, which was sparked by the BBC's disastrous Newsnight report on 2 November 2012. Although the BBC2 programme did not name McAlpine, it prompted a guessing game on social networks that led to the peer being falsely tarred as a paedophile. |
| At the height of the Twitter frenzy, Bercow tweeted to her 56,000 followers: "Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*" and later added: "Final on McAlpine: am VERY sorry for inadvertently fanning flames. But I tweet as me, forgetting that to some of u I am Mrs bloody Speaker." | At the height of the Twitter frenzy, Bercow tweeted to her 56,000 followers: "Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*" and later added: "Final on McAlpine: am VERY sorry for inadvertently fanning flames. But I tweet as me, forgetting that to some of u I am Mrs bloody Speaker." |
| On 15 November, after McAlpine threatened to sue Twitter users who had named him, Bercow wrote: "*Gulps*." She added: "I guess I'd better get some legal advice then. Still maintain was not a libellous tweet — just foolish." | On 15 November, after McAlpine threatened to sue Twitter users who had named him, Bercow wrote: "*Gulps*." She added: "I guess I'd better get some legal advice then. Still maintain was not a libellous tweet — just foolish." |
| McAlpine is seeking £50,000 in damages from Bercow in a dispute likely to become one of the first high court libel trials over Twitter posts. The BBC and ITV have already agreed to pay the Tory peer damages of £185,000 and £125,000 respectively, plus a total of nearly £200,000 in legal costs. | McAlpine is seeking £50,000 in damages from Bercow in a dispute likely to become one of the first high court libel trials over Twitter posts. The BBC and ITV have already agreed to pay the Tory peer damages of £185,000 and £125,000 respectively, plus a total of nearly £200,000 in legal costs. |
| His lawyers are in the process of contacting about 500 Twitter users over messages they posted about the peer. A spokeswoman for McAlpine declined to reveal how many had made the £25 donation to Children in Need. | His lawyers are in the process of contacting about 500 Twitter users over messages they posted about the peer. A spokeswoman for McAlpine declined to reveal how many had made the £25 donation to Children in Need. |
| His solicitor, Andrew Reid, told MediaGuardian in December that close to 1,000 people had written to apologise over their online comments after lawyers identified 10,000 potentially defamatory tweets. | His solicitor, Andrew Reid, told MediaGuardian in December that close to 1,000 people had written to apologise over their online comments after lawyers identified 10,000 potentially defamatory tweets. |
| Some high-profile tweeters, including the Guardian columnist George Monbiot and comedian Alan Davies, swiftly apologised to McAlpine after he vowed to take action. | Some high-profile tweeters, including the Guardian columnist George Monbiot and comedian Alan Davies, swiftly apologised to McAlpine after he vowed to take action. |
| However, Bercow has consistently denied that her tweets were libellous and has hired the London law firm Carter-Ruck to defend her against the claim. | However, Bercow has consistently denied that her tweets were libellous and has hired the London law firm Carter-Ruck to defend her against the claim. |
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