Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Barrymore strikes out
Judges torpedo comic’s bid for £2.4million compo over pool death arrest
TV comic Michael Barrymore’s dreams of a huge payout from the police have been dashed.
The Court of Appeal yesterday ruled the former Strike It Lucky host should receive only nominal damages for his unlawful arrest after the death of a dad-of-two in the pool at his mansion.
Barrymore, 66, had wanted £2.4million from Essex Police as he said the arrest in June 2007 ruined his career.
And last year the High Court concluded he should receive “more than nominal damages”.
However he could now get just £1. Barrymore, real name Michael Ciaran Parker, was held on suspicion of rape and murder six years after Stuart Lubbock, 31, died following the drugfuelled party in Roydon, Essex. No charges were brought and Essex Police later admitted the arresting officer was not briefed properly. But they said the TV star could have been lawfully arrested, so damages should be nominal.
Sir Brian Leveson, Lady Justice Hallett and Sir Ernest Ryder agreed yesterday.
Sir Brian said the High Court judge was correct to conclude “there were reasonable grounds both to suspect Mr Parker of committing an offence and that it was necessary to arrest him”.
The exact sum is yet to be decided and Stuart’s father Terry, 74, said yesterday “all he should get is pennies”.
Barrymore insisted: “The judgment makes clear they arrested me when at all times I was prepared to assist them.”
Essex Police said: “The investigation into Stuart’s death has not closed.”
Stuart had suffered serious anal injuries and an inquest into his death in 2002 recorded an open verdict.