Countdown star’s £50k libel payout
TV RACHEL’S ‘NO ABUSER’
RACHEL Riley has been awarded £50,000 after suing a blogger who claimed she was a “serial abuser” and had bullied a teen.
Mike Sivier published a libelous article about the Countdown star on his website Vox Political in January 2019.
It had the headline, “Serial abuser Rachel Riley to receive ‘extra protection’ – on grounds that she is receiving abuse”.
The article discussed tweets posted as part of an online debate on antisemitism in the Labour Party in December 2018 and January 2019, the High
Court heard.
Some of them were between Ms Riley and a user who identified herself as a 16-year-old called Rose. Ms Riley received a barrage of abuse after the article appeared.
A judge found Mr Sivier’s article would be read as claiming Ms Riley “engaged upon, supported and encouraged a campaign of online abuse and harassment of a 16-year-old girl”, allegations denied by Ms Riley. However, yesterday Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in favour of Ms Riley, saying Mr Sivier had “misrepresented the evidential picture” and that the article was “wholly unbalanced”.