View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
May 12, 2014updated 13 May 2014 3:33pm

Daily Mail pays damages and legal costs to Farage wife after saying she was previously his ‘mistress’

By Dominic Ponsford

The Daily Mail has agreed to pay damages and legal costs to the wife of UKIP leader Nigel Farage after wrongly reporting that he began his relationship with her whilst still with his first wife.

The Mail said in  page two apology today: “An article about Nigel Farage on 14 March said he and his wife Kirsten began an affair before the UKIP leader’s first marriage ended. We are happy to clarify that they met only after the divorce was finalised and apologise for any distress caused.

“We have agreed to pay damages and costs to Kirsten Farage.”

Mail columnist Andrew Pierce made the error in a news report on 14 March which said Kirsten Farage was once Farage’s “mistress…when the former City trader was married to his first wife Grainne, the mother of his two eldest sons.”

The piece went on to mistakenly say that the pair “embarked on a torrid affair while he was still married to Grainne, a nurse”.

Press Gazette understands Kirsten Farage lodged a High Court document listing Associated Newspapers as the defendant on 30 April.

Advertisement

A dozen of the UK's leading legal minds will explain what the Defamation Act 2013 means for journalists and the media at a unique conference being organised by Press Gazette in London on 19 June. The cost of defending a libel action at trial can be more than £1m, tickets for Defamation 2014 start from £89+VAT. Follow the links to book direct at the event page, or emailthomas.collinge@progressivemediagroup.com to secure your place and arrange payment within 28 days by invoice.

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 dose 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 Progressive Media Investments 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