Peer Wins Damages

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 112, 24 April 1936, Page 5

Peer Wins Damages

NEWSPAPER LIBEL How a Headline Led to Court Action JURY AWARDS £2OOO (Received 24, 11.25 a.m.j LONDON, April 23. How a headline in the ‘ ‘Morning Post,” “Italy Climbs Down,” led to a libel action was told in the Law Courts. The headline appeared on May 25, 1935, shortly before the Italian-Abyssinian war, when it was reported that Signor Mussolini had agreed to arbitration.

Lord Kiimaine, an Irish representative peer, expressing the opinion that the headline was provocative and undesirable, drew attention to the matter in the House of Lords, declaring that it was an abuse of the freedom of the Press at a time of national crisis to the extent of requiring Press censorship. Commenting upon this, the “Morning Post” editorially alleged that Lord Kiimaine was only the unwitting tool of others who needed a not-too-sophisticated agent to further their ends.

Lord Kiimaine interpreted this as meaning that he was stupid, ignorant and unfitted to participate in public affairs. Lord Kiimaine sued the “Morning Post” printers and editor for defamation.

The defendants pleaded fair comment and that the occasion was privileged. Counsel argued that Lord Kiimaine's speech was a gratuitous and offensive attack which the editor was entitled to resent.

Lord Kiimaine denied that he acted at others’ suggestions. The jury awarded Lord Kiimaine £2OOO.