The father of Paddy Jackson is to be awarded 100,000 in libel damages for false claims he tried to pay off the complainant at the rugby star’s rape trial, a judge ruled today.
Peter Jackson secured the payout against reality TV personality Danielle Meagher over the lies she posted on social media.
Delivering judgment at the High Court in Belfast, Master Mark Harvey insisted there must be consequences for her “vile” allegations.
“There seems to be a sense in some quarters that there is an online cloak of invisibility leading people to type things on a keyboard they may never utter in person,” he said.
“Such cowardly online bile causes real-life hurt and upset to other people and damages their reputation.
“The message needs to be out there that when someone posts baseless and libelous accusations online, the repercussions can be very serious.”
Mr Jackson, 69, declared himself fully vindicated by the outcome in his seven and a half year defamation battle.
“My family and I have suffered a constant barrage, and it’s still not too late for an apology for these false accusations,” he said.
He sued Ms Meagher, also known as Danielle Collins, over the bogus allegations published on Twitter, now rebranded as X, back in April 2018.
Weeks previously former Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson, 33, and Stuart Olding, 32, had been unanimously acquitted of raping the same woman.
Both sportsmen denied any criminal wrongdoing throughout their high-profile trial in Belfast.
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