Blogger loses libel case after 'campaign of harassment'
Friday 15 March 2013
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EmailA blogger who today lost a High Court libel case against Carmarthenshire Council's chief executive has said she might appeal.
Mr Justice Tugendhat said Jacqui Thompson "engaged in an unlawful campaign of harassment, defamation and intimidation" against Mark James.
She was ordered to pay Mr James £25,000 in compensation after the judge upheld his counter-claim.
Ms Thompson claimed the decision could "open the flood gates" for councils to sue "others who publicly scrutinise their local authorities and perhaps the press."
Local AM Rhodri Glyn and MP Jonathan Edwards said that councils should not be permitted to sue their own residents, and existing case law prevents councils from suing people for defamation.
The judgement came a day after a reporter for a Carmarthenshire newspaper was thrown out of a meeting of Llanelli councillors and ordered to tear up his notes.
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