Judge warns of posting 'baseless comments' online

High Court judge, Mr Justice Master Harvey, has warned of the real life financial consequences of posting baseless and libellous comments online

A High Court judge has warned of the real life financial consequences of posting "baseless and libellous" comments online.

Mr Justice Master Harvey awarded £100,000 in damages to the father of former Ireland rugby player Paddy Jackson after an Irish reality TV personality falsely claimed he had tried to pay off the complainant in his son's rape trial.

Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were cleared of rape in March 2018.

Peter Jackson sued Danielle Meagher for libel following a social media post in April 2018.

'Knocked for six'

Ms Meagher, also known as Danielle Collins, posted the unfounded allegations on Twitter, now known as X.

Both men had denied any criminal wrongdoing throughout their high-profile trial.

The judge said there must be consequences for her "vile" allegations.

The judge pointed out that "such cowardly online bile causes real life hurt and upset to other people".

"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 added.

Judgement was previously obtained against Danielle Meagher when she failed to enter an appearance in the case.

In his evidence, Mr Jackson recalled being "knocked for six" when the tweets were posted just as the family were trying to help their son rebuild his rugby career following the not guilty verdict.

Ms Meagher, pictured here attending the Dublin Wives wrap party in 2013, posted the allegations on social media

At a hearing earlier this month, Mr Jackson's wife, Gay, revealed he had been left "crushed" by the false claims and that her husband had a stroke earlier this year while trawling the internet to check on Ms Meagher's latest postings.

When ruling on the scale of damages, the judge called the social media post in April 2018 "a personal attack aimed at trashing someone's reputation with false accusations of criminal dishonesty".

He said it was rare to encounter such extensive efforts to track down a defendant, including serving notice on addresses in the USA and enlisting a private security firm to try to locate her in Dublin.

The judge said the defendant's conduct had been reprehensible.

"She departed for America and has been awkward and difficult throughout this process… she has simply brazened it out," he said.

With no apology for retraction made, the level of pay-out must reflect vindication for Mr Jackson, he added.

Peter Jackson, his wife Gay and solicitor Kevin Winters spoke to the media outside the High Court in Belfast

Awarding Mr Jackson £100,000 in damages plus legal costs, the judge recognised it may not be straightforward to recover compensation from someone living in another jurisdiction.

Mr Justice Master Harvey added: "Even if this should prove to be a paper judgement, which would be a regrettable outcome, at the very least the plaintiff can say he brought his case, obtained judgement and he has been vindicated, which will hopefully avoid any repeat of such vile allegations."

Speaking after the awarding of damages, Mr Jackson said: "I would still love to meet this individual face to face just for her to tell Gay and I what she was about and that's where the confusion is, something that's gnawed away at me over the years, what's it all about?"

On Tuesday, Mr Jackson's solicitor, Kevin Winters, confirmed plans to pursue Ms Meagher for the libel damages.

"This is a damning judicial critique of the defendant's response to our client's litigation," he said.

"Even at this very late stage and armed with a £100,000 judgement Mr Jackson is still prepared to give her a chance to apologise."

Mr Winters added: "We will now proceed to take steps in two jurisdictions to enforce the ruling which transcends today's case."