View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 28, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 8:27pm

McKenna wins libel case against Mirror

By Press Gazette

Celebrity hypnotherapist Paul McKenna today won his libel claim at London's High Court over a newspaper article which he said made him "a laughing stock" among his rivals.

However, he will have to wait until later this year to find out how much he is to receive in the way of damages.

McKenna sued the Mirror over an article in October 2003 which he claimed had painted him as a "fraudster who knowingly bought a degree to defraud the public".

Finding that the article was libellous top judge, Mr Justice Eady said he would assess how much he was to receive at a further hearing later in the year.

The article at the centre of the case alleged McKenna had received a "bogus degree" from La Salle University, Lousiana.

In his ruling today the judge said : "Mr McKenna had been granted a degree by La Salle, for what it was worth (as to which opinions clearly differ.)

"He valued it and was not seeking to deceive anyone by making reference to it himself or permitting others to do so."

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

He said that in the circumstances he could not accept that the Mirror had discharged the burden of proving that the "sting of the words" complained of by McKenna was substantially true.

"Mr McKenna was not in my judgment dishonest and, for that matter, whatever one may think of the academic quality of his work, or of the degree granted by La Salle, it would not be accurate to describe it as ‘bogus'", said the judge. It was certainly not granted ‘merely' for money."

During the hearing earlier this month McKenna told the court : "I was appalled that he had returned to the subject again which seemed to me to be an act of spite. I felt humiliated and disgusted.

"I was very hurt as it depicted me as a fraudster who knowingly had bought a degree to defraud the public.

"I worry that as a result of the article people will question not only whether I am telling the truth about my academic qualifications, but also about my integrity as a hypnotherapist, broadcaster, author and trainer.

"In my profession it is essential that people trust me and therefore I believe that the article has been damaging to my professional reputation and my business.

"Commercial competitors have seized on the article and mocked me. My peers made jokes about the article and I became a laughing stock."

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