Kate wins apology and damages from Mirror Group
10 April 2008
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On 11 February 2008, Kate Garraway issued legal proceedings against MGN Limited for libel in relation to articles published in the Sunday Mirror on 10 February and the Daily Mirror on 11 February.
Today in Court the publishers of the Sunday Mirror and Daily Mirror Group have accepted that there is and was no truth whatsoever in any suggestion that Kate Garraway betrayed her husband, Derek Draper and was unfaithful with Anton du Beke. It has today publicly apologised to Kate in Open Court and agreed to publish apologies in the newspapers and to pay Kate substantial damages together with her legal costs.
London Law Firm Schillings, who represented Kate, said today that:
"Kate and her husband Derek Draper are happily married and they have a young child. Kate and Anton were dance partners in Strictly Come Dancing and quickly became friends. Since then they have often worked together and at the time these allegations were published they were rehearsing together for Bruce Forsyth’s 80th Birthday tribute in which they both appeared. Given that the Defendant had ignored Kate’s denials prior to and at the time of publication she felt she had no option but to immediately issue proceedings".
Kate said today:
"I am glad that this matter is now over. No-one likes to take legal action against a newspaper but I could see no alternative. The way my friendship with Anton was twisted into something sordid was terribly unfair and upsetting. I wanted everyone to know that what had been written was completely wrong. The accusations threatened to cast a shadow over the wonderful time I had on Strictly Come Dancing but now I can feel good about it all again. I want to thank all those Strictly and GMTV viewers who sent messages of support during this tough time, every one meant a great deal to us."
Her husband Derek Draper added:
"This has been a stressful time but we felt we had to fight for a complete apology and damages because this story was so entirely false and therefore deeply upsetting. It is horrid to attack a couple’s marriage in this way just because they have a public profile. I have always been glad that Kate and Anton became such good friends and felt sick when that was distorted into something else entirely. Women – and men – should be allowed to be friends with people of the opposite sex without people leaping to the completely wrong conclusion."
The Guardian News - Mirror titles pay out to Garraway
The Daily Mail - Kate Garraway wins libel case
The Telegraph -GMTV's Kate Garraway wins damages over libel
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GMTV's Kate Garraway issues libel proceedings
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