View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
March 12, 2012

NoW Eastenders actor arrest story prompts libel payout

By Press Gazette

Eastenders actor Steve McFadden (who plays Phil Mitchell) has accepted undisclosed libel damages over a 2010 News of the World story which reported his arrest in relation to “alleged harassment to cause violence”.

The November 2010 story was headlined: “Nicked! Exclusive: Cops Arrest Enders Star.”

During a High Court hearing this morning when the settlement was confirmed, a lawyer for McFadden noted that he was not charged with any offence and told Mr Justice Tugendhat that News of the World publisher News Group Newspapers had apologised and agreed to pay the actor damages and legal costs.

David Price QC, for McFadden, told Mr Justice Tugendhat that the article in the News of the World – which closed in July 2011 – referred to an “incident alleged to have taken place” at McFadden’s home in May 2010.

The article – which was trailed on the front page and “occupied the whole of page 7” – reported McFadden’s arrest “in relation to alleged harassment to cause violence towards his former girlfriend”, said Price.

He said the article also reported allegations that “unidentified ‘police friends’ of Mr McFadden” may have sought to “impede an earlier investigation”.

Price said police closed the investigation after being provided with CCTV footage of the “alleged incident” and announced that no charges would be brought.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“This was reported in a short article in the News of the World on page 16 on 26 December 2010,” Price told the judge.

“Mr McFadden has consistently denied that there was any basis to accuse him of harassment or violent conduct or of impeding any police investigation and was confident that his innocence would be established by the CCTV footage.

“He was concerned that the 7 November article may have been understood to suggest that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that he was guilty.”

Brid Jordan, for News Group Newspapers, told the judge: “The article was simply intended to report the fact of the arrest as a result of the allegations made without commenting on the strength of the case.”

She added: “The defendant apologises to Mr McFadden if the article was understood to suggest that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that he was guilty. It accepts without question the outcome of the police investigation.”

  • To contact the Press Gazette newsdesk call 020 7936 6433 or email pged@pressgazette.co.uk

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network