P.D. for criminal libel

Press, 19 December 1989, Page 18

P.D. for criminal libel

A man who admitted criminally libelling the former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Sir Robert Muldoon was sentenced to four months periodic detention when he appeared in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday. Dennis Lloyd McLachlan, aged 42, of Oxford, had pleaded guilty after a depositions hearing, admitting responsibility for “limited publication” of a political newsletter, “Owl Information No. 6” between October, 1987, and May, 1988. The publication alleged Sir Robert accepted bribes and was involved in business dealings with the Mafia. Sir Robert strenuously denied the

allegations in written evidence submitted to the depositions hearing and said it was difficult to envisage a more serious libel for a politician. Passing sentence yesterday, Mr Justice Williamson said telling lies about people was not uncommon. But in McLachlan’s case it was done in a form designed to mislead others into believing that what was published was the truth. “The libel which you were a party to perpetrating was gross,” his Honour said. It involved a public figure and was the subject of a planned distribution. Prosecution for criminal libel carried a maximum sentence of one

year’s jail but was now so uncommon that a Parliamentary committee had recommended the offence be abolished. His Honour said there was no evidence to suggest McLachlan had either written the article or was involved in composing it. He took into account the delay since the article was published, the fact McLachlan pleaded guilty, had good references, was receiving a benefit and was in no position to pay a fine. McLachlan’s periodic detention is to start on January 20. Mr Brent Stanaway appeared for the Crown, with Mr David Jones defending.