News

A high court ruling in a libel case could have far-reaching implications for the way local authorities respond to allegations about employees.

Mr Justice Eady ruled that former nursery nurses Christopher Lillie and Dawn Reed were innocent of the allegations of sexual abuse made against them by an independent review team commissioned by Newcastle council in 1995.

He said the four reviewers acted in malice when they wrote their report, consequently forfeiting their right to qualified privilege. He cleared the council of malice and ordered the four reviewers to pay the libel damages of £200,000 to each claimant, plus legal costs.

Mr Justice Eady said: "They included in their report a number of fundamental claims which they must have known to be untrue, and which cannot be explained on the basis of incompetence or mere carelessness."

A statement by the review team said they were shocked at the judge’s decision because they acted on a genuine belief that Lillie and Reed had abused children in their care. They are now considering whether to appeal against the judgement.