Withers advises as McCann family PR adviser wins defamation case

Withers has won a High Court defamation battle for client Justine McGuinness, a former PR adviser of Gerry and Kate McCann, parents of Madeleine McCann.

McGuinness was represented by Withers counsel Amber Melville-Brown in her case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), after allegations were made in a front-page article in The People claiming that that McGuinness overcharged expenses from the 'Find Madeleine Fund' and was forced to resign.

An apology from MGN was read this morning (16 October) in the High Court, with the publishing group accepting that the allegations were false and stating that it will not repeat defamatory content.

The group has also agreed to make a donation to McGuinness's charity of choice.

Withers instructed barrister David Sherborne of 5 Raymond Buildings as counsel. MGN turned to Davenport Lyons, with intellectual property (IP) partner Kevin Bays advising.

Commenting on the outcome, Melville-Brown said: "My client brought these proceedings because her previously unblemished character had been sullied by untrue allegations that went to the heart of her professionalism and integrity. I am delighted that the record has been set straight and that her good reputation has now been restored.

"The public is entitled to know, indeed demands to know, the truth, and the press fulfils a vital role in servicing our need for news. But Fleet Street must guard against rubbishing reputations in the process through the inaccurate and sensational reporting of emotive stories."

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