Pro-Corbyn Twitter users apologise after libel letter

► PRO-CORBYN TWITTER users apologised to Jeffrey Samuels QC last week after the barrister warned them they could be sued for libel over posts falsely claiming that the lawyer’s opposition to Jeremy Corbyn was motivated by a wish to save tax.

Mr Samuels, who has lived in Israel since 2016, revealed he had pursued seven “pro-Corbyn accounts” with legal action after he was targeted with abusive messages on the social media platform.

Among the Twitter accounts to apologise was @BenJolly9. Sharing the apology on Twitter, Mr Samuels wrote it was “important to note that this apology was not volunteered.”

Another Twitter user using the name @socialistbangrs also issued an apology over posts which suggested Mr Samuels son was a “fascist” because he had served in the Israel Defence Forces.

Mr Samuels tweeted: “The message needs to go out to the Corbynite left that their antics on Twitter have real life consequences. The days when Jews were easy prey are long gone.”

Mr Samuels revealed he had been subjected to abuse after posting an ironic tweet last month noting how an online meeting calling for Jeremy Corbyn to be reinstated into the Labour Party was taking place on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night in November 1938 when the Nazis vandalised Jewish property.

The QC, who is no longer practising, was subsequently subjected to hundreds of abusive tweets in response to his post.

Some of these attacks focused on his work as defence lawyer for Levi Bellfield, convicted of the murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2011 .

Other tweets noted that Mr Samuels had made aliyah. He pressed ahead with legal action using Daniel Berke at the Manchesterbased firm 3D Solicitors.

In an apology aimed at preventing further action and the possibility of costs, Mr Jolly offered an apology, stating: “I would like to apologise to Jeff Samuels QC for falsely claiming that he ‘fights for rapists and murders’ and that his opposition to Jeremy Corbyn was motivated by a wish to save tax, when in fact he was honestly concerned about antisemitism.”

Mr Samuels accepted that as a result of the apology he would not be taking further action against this account and suggested the other accounts sent legal letters “will surely follow”.

The @BenJolly9 account was suspended from Twitter earlier this week.

The days when Jews were easy prey are long gone’