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.
If there is a shortfall Craig please do not hesitate to ask us to try and cover it as well.
I can’t help thinking this exercise was simply to enrich lawyers. But then that’s the libel industry for you.
I wonder if the Law Society will sue me for it?
Thank God for that Craig! It’s a sad reflection of the times but you have to watch every word you say now. And, if you’ll pardon my language, the media is full of slimy bastards waiting to trip you up every which way.
You did the right thing Craig. People who stand up are few and far between.
A great outcome, congrats!
Tears of joy are streaming down my cheeks.
What a relief.
See what happens when good people do good things, en masse.
When I sent a cheque I told you to use it as you see fit. If more is needed to help others, just let me know.
Now go and get drunk.
As a small-time donor I’m very happy with the outcome. It might have been foolhardy to fight it.
Certainly I didn’t contribute in order to see you fight some sort of proxy battle against an injust system – the idea was to keep you and your family safe.
Thanks for the clear update, and for what it’s worth I wholly concur with your decision – no reservations. It’s entirely possible that the opposition’s lawyer had planned on bankrupting you – this is his acknowledged style – and seeing (on this blog) that this would not be as quick and easy as he had perhaps planned, advised Simons to drop it.
My small contribution was a gift, not a loan. And I am privileged to have been able to assist.
Well done.
Not quite, Ba’al. In my view, it’s much more likely that their +++barrister+++, who is not so emotionally attached to Isr**l as Jake Wallis Simons and his solicitor Mark Lewis, gave the correct professional advice to his client and instructing solicitor, namely that their case was weak or non-existent, and that they should settle.
My speculation was just that and no more. Yours has merit – but why wait until the day of the hearing to decide that? Someone earlier suggested that the Priti Patel debacle may have contributed to the result; I think there may be something in that, too. I had never heard the BBC (R4, 0700) leading a news slot with anything questioning the wonderfulness of our relations with Is***l before, until today. And she’s been recalled from her Kenya trip to answer more questions? Something’s certainly up.
Sorry, this thread is and should be about congratulations. Returning to the studio…
Life is an interface. As expected the power of intention with so many good folk entangled is unconditional.
Excellent outcome to a case which should never have been raised, Craig…keep on the campaign, please!
The Munro immediately to my north hid last night’s aurora but your result lights up my sky far more effectively. As for my £50 : it was both a gesture of support and two fingers to the press and the law. Anything that remains should therefore be used to benefit messrs Wightman and Clark.
So pleased for you Craig.
Congratulations and wholeheartedly agree esp re Andy Wightman. Can I be a wee bit rude about lawyers fees in these instances? I hope they have the good grace to blush when they present their final account
£100,000 to kiss and make up? Nothing against individual lawyers *cough* but the British justice system is rotten to the core when it takes four times the average salary just to shake hands to avoid an even more expensive episode in court.
Just glad the worry is over for you and your family.
Now that we have crowdfunding, the wee man is more able to stand up to the bully. Maybe a few bullies will have second thoughts about trying to ruin other people’s lives.
Well done… this is a great relief. Do let us know if there’s a shortfall between the settlement, your lawyer fees and whatever you’ve had contributed to date.
Delighted to hear this.
Keep up the good fight.
A great relief for you. Well Done to the team that supported you.
A great result, Craig. Now you can chill a bit.
You may do with my donation as you see fit, dear Craig, splitting it between Andy Wightman’s defence fund and Neil Clark’s case against Oliver Kamm. There may be another time and place to challenge the UK libel laws. I am happy that you’re happy with this joint statement!
I’m relieved at the outcome – sense has prevailed.
Like others, I’m pissed off at the cost of arriving at the obvious solution – “family mediation” or the like could have got there at the cost of one person for an afternoon.
Spend any surplus as you see fit – though the Andy Wightman case is dear to my heart.
Delighted for you, can’t help thinking that the lawyers are once again the only winners. Use my small amount as you see fit.
Congratulations you made the right choice.
Well done Craig and solidarity
Very glad the weight is lifted.
It shouldn’t cost so much to stand up for yourself and your principles. It was a brave thing to do.
What brilliant news. I am delighted for you and your family. If my contribution is going to line the pockets of a rich lawyer, I am glad it is lining the pockets of your rich lawyer rather than the plaintiff’s.
Contributing the residue to Neil Clark’s fund is an excellent idea. He has been through enough, and should be able to confront his persecutor in court.
Congratulations (I think?)!
Craig, I gave £XX to your fund and I am delighted with this outcome. My motivation for giving was a vague concern that we were seeing a unionist effort to pick off those in the front-line of the indy debate (wings etc) and a simple pissed-off-ness with rich people abusing the legal system against the little guy. You are fully back in the game – hopefully sleeping peacefully – so please just keep on doing what you are doing.
As Andi Mcdowell says “it’s because you’re worth it”
Know that we will always be there if or when the bullies appear. My feelings of relief are probably as nothing, compared to yours. So, please take some time to re-energise. Regarding Andy W: a good and kind idea. He can expect help from me anytime too. It’s comin’ yet, for a’that.
Thanks and a big hug.
Congratulations, Craig. I am delighted both for you and for the fact that your blog can continue.
Absolutely delighted at the outcome for you. Please keep my donation. It is not a coincidence that your legal costs came to that amount. Have a good rest and come back firing on all cylinders. ❤️