Conservative MEP for the North West, Den Dover, has accepted “substantial”
but
undisclosed libel damages and a public apology in the High Court over a
story in The Sun that accused him of abusing the system under which
Euro MPs receive a daily allowance.
The action related to a piece
in The Sun on 14 February headed “Sign in, Slope off”, backed by an
editorial on another page headed “Cash and Dash. As scams go, it’s one of the finest.”
The
MEP’s solicitor, Kate Macmillan, told the court: “These allegations
were wholly untrue and should never have been published, as the
defendant now recognises.” She added that Dover was “an extremely
hard-working MEP”. She also said The Sun had unfairly photographed
Dover snoozing on the train from Brussels to London.
Benjamin Beaby, for The Sun, said the newspaper “sincerely apologised” for the distress and embarrassment caused to Dover.
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