View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
June 16, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 3:43pm

Sun in libel payout overslur on MEP

By Press Gazette

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.

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

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