At the High Court today the following joint statement was agreed.
On 29 April 2016, Jake Wallis Simons and Craig Murray appeared together on Sky News to debate anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom. Following that debate, Dr Wallis Simons issued libel proceedings against Mr Murray. Dr Wallis Simons and Mr Murray have now settled these proceedings.
By this statement, Mr Murray accepts that Dr Wallis Simons is not a liar, and Dr Wallis Simons accepts that Mr Murray is not an anti-Semite. They are both pleased to have resolved this dispute amicably.
I am genuinely happy with this outcome, which would never have been remotely possible without the incredible 5,000 plus people who donated to my defence fund and enabled me to be represented by a top legal team. It continues to be my view that the libel laws are appalling – had I lost the case I was very definitely looking at a cost of £350,000 plus.
I am also very grateful to the band of readers of this blog who arrived to support me, and in the end saw very little. When invited to open the case the other side immediately asked for an adjournment to discuss a settlement. The hour of delay which followed was occupied on our side almost entirely by my agonising over whether it was morally acceptable for me to agree this statement and use the defence fund to pay my lawyers, or whether those who donated did so in the expectation I would fight the case whatever.
There were a number of supporters at hand who had donated, many of whom were personally previously unknown to me, and the opinions I could canvass were unanimously that this was a good result and a good use of their money.
Having agreed to settle in this way, I have arrived at this following decision. If anybody who donated feels they have been unduly sold out, please let me know through the contact button above and your donation will be refunded to you.
When we started the defence fund, our “realistic” projection was a total of £12,000. That we eventually raised over £100,000 is astonishing. Equally astonishing, but in a bad way, is that my own legal team’s cost almost amounts to that – I will publish full accounts in due course. After all is settled and refunds issued to those who wish, if anything is left over I propose to split it between Andy Wightman’s defence fund and Neil Clark’s case against Oliver Kamm. Again please do let me know if you object. It’s actually your money not mine.
I did not realise how this has been weighing me down, until the threat has been lifted today. I have never claimed to be entirely without fault, and I would ask you to refrain from any comment here which detracts from the amicable spirit of the joint statement. It is a time for celebration not recrimination, and please confine any rudeness to remarks about me.
A more than satisfactory outcome and don’t need a refund. A real weight off your shoulder. This money was better spent than the money used to bet on Hawkes Bay lifting the Ranfurly Shield this year.
Excellent news, Mr Murray. One has to wonder why this had to go to court, with the huge legal costs, to achieve what I’m sure both could have agreed over a beer or a whisky. Ah well, I am glad for you and your family that this threat has been removed and glad for us readers that you can continue to write.
I do not wish my donations returned – your proposal sounds good to me.
All the best
So glad it’s all over for you Craig. What a relief that must be. Glad that an agreement has been reached and you can now put the whole horrid event behind you. There is something wrong with the system though, where ultimately the only ones who win are the lawyers.
What a relief it must be- a satisfactory outcome which I trust you are celebrating ‘appropriately’.
Congratulations Craig . Glad it has been resolved . Feel free to use my donation in whatever way you wish.
Kindly allocate my very modest contributions as you see fit; while my politics are not entirely your politics, I know an honest man when I see one.
Wee hah|!
Genuinely pleased for you.
Will be raising a pint for you tonight on ‘Broadway’… still the same as it used to be you’ll be glad to know.
Will sleep now with a warm fuzz.
I made a small contribution, and I’m happy with how you intend to redirect any surplus.
Use my donation to buy a decent bottle of Whisky…then call me so we can drink it ! LOL
Surely there should be a mechanism for pre trial resolution of disagreements such as this. An informal hearing before a judge perhaps in which he or she points out a few home truths to each side, and what is considered to be a fair way of settling – via public retraction, apology or whatever. The penalty for failing to agree a civil and easily accomplished resolution will be to forfeit a large amount of money just to take the action further, which will also, of course, incur large costs. This would act as a deterrent from frivolous or vexatious claims ever getting near a court, dispense a reasonable rough justice and act as a barrier to the exploitation of the courts for political or personal feuds.
Wonderful news!! While it is tempting to fight in this case disccression is the better part of valour.
Effectively you won because it was they who asked to setttle, even if you did have to acknowledge the odious plaintiff was not a liar. They clearly did not want to look like asses for bringing you to court for such a trivial and plainly entrapped slur. They suckered you in.
Though you’ve won this round, be ready for another one.
Unfortunately I was unable to contribute to the initial fundraiser but was hoping to be in a better position to do so at a later date if need be. Luckily for you that will not be necessary. I’m sure there were many like me who would have contributed if you were in absolute extremis.
Now back to work Mr Murray. There is much to do.
Craig,
I am very happy for you and glad this has been quickly settled for your sake. I hope this does not hugely impact upon your ability to speak out in future. It would be so good to have some type of common fund for times like these but I just can’t see how this could work.
Happy for any pittance I contribute to be distributed as you see fit although happy for you to keep it too.
Well done !
Glad this is over for you Craig and that the outcome is fine for you. Happy for you to do as you will with my pittance of a contribution including keeping it yourself.
I do hope that this experience does not influence too much your future actions.
I wish there could be a fund set up for times like these for people but hard to see how it could work. Thanks again for doing what you do.
Well done!!! Good outcome!
Peter Clare
I was happy to give you my meagre £30 Craig, and I don’t want it back. The stress from this intimidating process must have been terrible. While preparing to travel to the trial, you almost sounded like someone on death row, and who wouldn’t. In the end, common sense prevailed, a characteristic I would more readily associate with your blogs. You are fulfilling a vital public service, and long may it continue. Congratulations on the outcome.
Excellent news Craig. I would be grateful if you would pass whatever is left of my donation onto Neil Clark’s campaign.
Happy to hear the weight has now been lifted. The donation was for you to use how you see fit.
I’m delighted for you that the ordeal is over and that the matter has been resolved amicably. You are not only clearly a gentleman, you have a generous and forgiving nature, a lesser man would have insisted that since an apology was issued for the accusation of being a liar that an apology be issued for the accusation of being an anti-semite.
Am happy for you the outcome was reasonably satisfactory, and that you did not have to fall foul of the rapacious legal system here. One of the clearest test for an equal society will be the ease with which ordinary people are able to go to law for redress. As a society the UK has clearly failed that test. Congratulations on having this particular monkey removed from your back,!
I am glad that the case is settled. Move on but watch your back!
Best wishes.
A pleasure to be there to see you smiling through.
Keep up the good work, Craig.
Congratulations on your resolving the litigation. Your decision to settle was a wise choice and you should have no regrets.
Excellent news Craig. I think it’s a very wise decision to accept the settlement. What a total farce. You did write an article which wasn’t antisemitic. Use my donation however you see fit. Best wishes to you and all of your family. At times like this I often remember that old advert “A mars a day helps you work, rest and play”
In your case you’ve done you’ve been working for all of us with a conscience. So concentrate on the rest and play for awhile.
Les
Congratulations Craig. Keep on rattling the cage of the neocon / neoliberal Zionists.
A great relief to you I’m sure. No refund necessary. Best wishes
My donation, if there’s any money left over from feeding the lawyers’ overpaid lifestyle, can go to Neil Clark’s fund. Congratulations, Craig, on getting off without too much injustice inflicted on you. Outrageous that recourse to the – alleged – law of the land is only available to those with enough money to pay the congregated bloodsuckers.
Well done Craig, wise decision to settle, but it illustrates how ‘they’ rely on intimidation to win, but fold when its defied, with a little help from your friends.
Dear Craig
Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice!
I am so pleased for you.
Money well donated and well spent.
Yours
Mr Millwall
Thank goodness you both could reach an agreement amicably. Why this had to cost 100k boggles the mind. It must be a great weight off your shoulders.
Next time you want to call someone a liar on national TV or radio, just count to 10 first and choose another form of words!!!
Amen to that! Something we should all be aware of.
It is after all unparliamentary, best stick to the, so far at least, acceptable “terminalogical inexactitude”!
A very wise decision and excellent outcome