Ceasefire in Sir Cliff’s legal fight against BBC and police
SIR Cliff Richard’s court battle against the BBC was dramatically halted yesterday so the two sides could attempt to reach a settlement.
Lawyers for the singer and the broadcaster have agreed to a one-month ceasefire so negotiations can take place.
Sir Cliff, 76, is suing the BBC and South Yorkshire Police for up to £1.5million after a police raid on his home was shown on live TV as officers rifled through his possessions following historical allegations of child sexual abuse against him.
Barristers representing the police also agreed to the suspension of legal proceedings at the High Court yesterday.
The entertainer has previously said he spent a small fortune on lawyers and public relations in the immediate aftermath of the 2014 raid to try to limit the damage to his reputation.
He is seeking to claim that money back from the BBC and police force in the court case. Sir Cliff is claiming his right to a private life was infringed and is demanding ‘very substantial’ damages. His lawyers say the singer has suffered ‘profound and long-lasting’ harm.
He has already paid close to £800,000 in legal fees, but has been accused of spending ‘grossly unreasonable’ sums by the broadcaster. Mr Justice Mann – who has
‘Very substantial damages’
been overseeing the latest in a series of preliminary hearings at the High Court in London – indicated that he would review the position in the near future.
Yesterday, the judge said he would not comment on the size of legal bills run up by Sir Cliff, despite a request from the BBC to do so. The BBC could be ordered to pick up Sir Cliff’s legal bills if it loses the battle. Police searched Sir Cliff ’s £3million apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, during their investigation.
The raid was filmed by a BBC helicopter after one of its journalists was tipped off that the star was under suspicion.
Sir Cliff, who was never charged with any offence, has accused the BBC and the police force of striking a deal to broadcast the search. During the preliminary hearing, Sir Cliff’s lawyers demanded that the BBC should reveal its source. The singer did not attend.
His legal team claim the tip- off came from within Operation Yewtree, the Scotland Yard probe into historical sexual abuse allegations set up after the Jimmy Savile scandal.