Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands on Thursday, 4 July 2019.

Brecqhou-based billionaire David Barclay has been ordered to pay 21,000 euros (£18,900) in damages to a French playwright and theatres after a landmark ruling rejected his attempt to sue for defamation, the AFP news agency reports.

The 85-year-old filed suit over a critically reviewed play which had similarities to him and his brother, Frederick, seeking 100,000 euros (£90,000) in damages for libel and violation of privacy, and also sought to have the play banned.

Hedi Tillette de Clermont-Tonnerre's play, Les Deux Freres et les Lions - The Two Brothers and the Lions - tells the story of the rise of two Scottish immigrants from a poor background who came to have one of the biggest fortunes of Great Britain by the end of the 20th Century. It doesn't mention the brothers directly, but has clear parallels.

However, a judge found there were no facts revealed that were unknown, egregious, intimate or even imaginary which were likely to constitute a particularly serious intrusion into Mr Barclay's life.

Mr Barclay was ordered to pay 6,000 euros (£5,400) in moral damages to the writer, as well as 5,000 euros (£4,500) to each of three theatre companies involved in producing the play for infringing their right to show the work. He was also ordered to pay 35,000 euros (£31,400) in legal costs.

His lawyer, Christophe Bigot, said the British tycoon, who with his brother has an estimated fortune of £8bn (9.3bn euros), would likely appeal the ruling.

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey deputy is questioning the objectivity of an independent appraisal of Jersey's top civil servant.

Deputy Kirsten Morel has concerns the author of the review into States Chief Executive Charlie Parker knew him and had covered previous appraisals on him.

The appraisal by Dr John Nicholson said Mr Parker has made significant progress, and that he's fully in charge of his brief, but said the process of his changes could have been more gradual as they'd been a shock to the States.

Deputy Morel said that because Mr Parker's perks of the job were tied in with getting a good appraisal, it should be written by someone who doesn't know him.

The States says Dr Nicholson was the founder of an international business psychology consultancy, with an impressive record of working with leaders in professional, legal and financial services firms, as well as central and local government in the UK.

It added he was appointed by the previous chief minister and confirmed by the current one, John Le Fondre.

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

People might be able to go shopping in more places in Jersey on Sundays and bank holidays in future.

The economic development minister has asked the Law Department to bring forward changes to the regulations governing larger establishments.

He said such change would be in the long-term best interests of the island.

Image source, Jersey States

BBC Radio Jersey

A man has been arrested in Jersey after it was claimed he upset people in St Brelade's Bay by shouting, swearing and threatening people.

Police said it happened on Tuesday evening, along the promenade.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and indecent assault.

Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

Legislation to change to a "deemed consent" system of organ donation is currently being drafted by the States, according to a Health and Social Care Committee spokesman.

The proposed system, agreed in principle by the States in October 2018, would be a 'soft opt-out' system, where a person has to specifically register their wish not to become a donor with the national registry.

In the case of someone who has not expressed their wishes either way the family will be consulted in the event that they could become a donor.

The committee's policy letter also outlined the need for "wider initiatives" to encourage islanders to consider donation and to "discuss the issue with their friends and families".

It would not apply to under-18s, Guernsey residents of fewer than 12 months and those "without capacity" to consent.

In these cases consent would need to be obtained from an "appropriate person" for donation to proceed.

Jersey brought in a similar system on Monday.

BBC Radio Jersey

There could be up to 1,500 tenants in Jersey whose deposits are not protected by a compulsory deposit scheme.

Figures revealed by the housing minister showed there were nearly 13,500 rental properties in the island, but the My Deposits scheme, external had taken less than 12,000 deposits.

Since November 2015, all landlords and letting agents must protect deposits with the scheme within 30 days of receiving it from a tenant.

Minister Sam Mezec said it could be because some landlords stopped taking deposits when the scheme was introduced, or never took them in the first place.

Another explanation could be that the requirement to use the scheme only applied to rental contracts signed after 2015, he added.

Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

Heather Watson faces a "real test" against world number 20 Anett Kontaveit, according to BBC 5 Live's Jamie Broughton.

"We've seen her play well against better seeds before, but certainly a much tougher match than the first round," he added.

She will face off against the Estonian on Court One at 13:00 in front of a crowd of about 13,000, most of whom will be "cheering her on".

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's housing minister has until the end of 2019 to make public all the criteria used to decide if islanders are eligible to buy an affordable home, external, following a decision in the States.

A number of the island's politicians called for clarity, saying the existing system was too confusing.

Meanwhile, an attempt to ensure people could apply for an affordable home anywhere in the island, rather than just in a parish with which they had a "close link", has been rejected.

Deputy Inna Gardiner had described the existing system as discriminatory, but a majority of her fellow politicians opted to stick with the status quo.

Stephanie Gabbatt
BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey Airport's departure lounge was evacuated on Tuesday evening after a low-level security incident.

About 150 passengers were sent back through security to be re-screened just after 17:30.

An airport spokesman said passengers arriving on a flight from Alderney were mistakenly routed through the departures area rather than arrivals. As arriving passengers had mixed with those flying out of Guernsey, passengers waiting for flights had to be re-screened. It led to some minor delays.

Ports manager Colin Le Ray apologised and said the incident was not related to any issue with their general security provision.

Image source, Guernsey Airport

Dan Downs
Weather Forecaster

It will be rather breezy or even windy along the coast on Wednesday.

It will be dry with some areas of cloud in the morning. However, more in the way of sunshine is expected in the afternoon.

Maximum temperature: 18 to 21C (64 to 70F).