Ex-mates in race row
Lawsuit after war of words on Facebook
RACIST and anti-Semitic accusations on social-media linked to the support of an English far-right activist have sparked a defamation lawsuit between two Far North businessmen.
Owner of Port Douglas burger joint N17 Simon MacLeod lodged the claim seeking at least $250,000 in damages from Blue Dive Port Douglas owner Mark Fraenkel over an alleged tirade of Facebook posts in July and August this year.
The drama began when Mr Fraenkel, who is Jewish and
lost family members in the Holocaust, took offence over Mr MacLeod’s use of the term “yiddo” and a message that
read: #freetommyrobinson, according to documents filed in the Cairns District Court.
Tommy Robinson is a farright activist who co-founded the English Defence League, who was jailed and later released over contempt of court.
Mr MacLeod has accused his former pal of calling him a racist, a supporter of racists, an anti-Semite and a coward on multiple public Facebook posts despite two formal requests to stop. However Mr Fraenkel claims in defence papers filed in court that he was provoked when the N17 owner sent him a
private message that said: #freetommyrobinson and then: “I knew that would get a rise out of you”.
In the paperwork he has requested the matter be dealt with in mediation but vowed to Mr MacLeod he would “fight the case around your very public and unashamed use of the racial epithet ‘yiddo’ and your provocative messages to me” while describing the $250,000 as “totally ludicrous”.
Court papers allege a number of Port Douglas leaders including mayor Julia Leu and councillor Michael Kerr have
been unknowingly dragged into the stoush after they were tagged in a post.
Mr Fraenkel’s post allegedly read: “Recently two fellow Port Douglas Brits messaged me, privately, about their support for Tommy Robinson, who is a British racist criminal serving 13 months in jail. I’m embarrassed by their support for this racists and his influence in this town would take us back ages … I hugely hope these misguided people (SM & BF) wake up. I used to call them pals. Racism is not welcome in Port Douglas.”
While in another he allegedly stated: “Anyone impressed with the racist supporting Simon.”
Mr MacLeod claims in court documents that Mr Fraenkel labelled him a Nazi in an email to two QPS officers over alleged use of the word ‘yiddo’, which also refers to a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.
“The term ‘yiddo’ is a hugely anti-Semitic term. It’s used by Nazi fringe groups in the UK.” Mr MacLeod wants an injunction stopping Mr Fraenkel from posting any more like comments and has also asked for aggravated damages. While the latter is seeking up to $5500 in costs.