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August 17, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 4:29pm

Sun sued by woman it called an auld slapper

By Press Gazette

Dominic Ponsford
The Sun is facing a a libel action from a woman
it called the “haggard hooker” in a story which claimed she had slept
with England footballer Wayne Rooney.
The front page story appeared in August 2004 and
pictured Patricia Tierney, 50, under the headline “Don’t fancy yours
much Wayne”.
It alleged that Tierney was “known in the trade as the auld slapper”
and dressed in PVC to pleasure the England star.
Tierney, from Whiston, South Yorkshire, is said
to be on anti-depressants following the “utterly false and damaging
allega “auld slappertions”.
Her lawyer David Kirwan said: “Mrs Tierney is a
married woman, mother of seven children and grandmother of 16. She is
not a prostitute and has never been a prostitute as the Sun alleged.
“Just three days before the allegations were
first printed, Mrs Tierney and her family couldn’t have been happier
having celebrated her son’s wedding.
“The reality is that she worked part-time as a
receptionist in the massage parlour for three weeks in August 2003
before leaving for another job.
Since the allegations, she and her family have suffered endless abuse
and name-calling. Her grandchildren have been bullied at school.
“Mrs Tierney has even been forced to alter her
appearance by dying her hair so that people do not recognise her from
the photographs published in the Sun.
“Legal action has commenced against the newspaper and, if the case goes
to trial at Liverpool High Court, Wayne Rooney will potentially be
called as a witness.”
Kirwan added: “Since these allegations were first published in August 2004, Patricia Tierney has been through 12 months of hell.
“Every time the story is mentioned she is reduced to tears and is prevented from trying to reclaim her life and move on.
“It is because she sees no end to the ridicule
she has suffered that she has instructed Kirwans Solicitors to issue
libel proceedings against the Sun newspaper.”
The Sun has said that it stands by the story.

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