British Family Wins Harassment Lawsuit Against Conspiracy Theorist
A British man and his daughter, who suffered grave injuries in a tragic suicide bombing at a concert in England in 2017, have successfully won a harassment lawsuit against a conspiracy theorist. This individual had spread false claims suggesting that the horrific terror attack was merely an elaborate hoax.
The case in the UK drew parallels to a notable lawsuit in the United States involving conspiracy broadcaster Alex Jones. In that instance, Jones was found guilty of defaming the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, resulting in a staggering $1.5 billion in damages owed to the families.
In a civil court ruling, Justice Karen Steyn determined that Richard D. Hall had indeed harassed the Hibbert family by constructing a deceptive narrative. Hall claimed in both a book and a video that the bombing at the Manchester Arena was a “well-planned fake terrorist incident,” asserting that the victims were merely “crisis actors.” The court documents highlighted the severity of Hall’s actions.
“I have no doubt that his course of conduct was a negligent, indeed reckless, abuse of media freedom,” Justice Steyn stated, as noted in a court announcement. A subsequent hearing will be scheduled to assess the damages to be awarded.
The devastating attack, carried out by Salman Abedi, a 22-year-old suicide bomber, occurred at a venue where the American pop sensation Ariana Grande was performing. This heinous act resulted in the tragic loss of 22 lives and inflicted lasting injuries on numerous others.
Among those affected were Martin Hibbert and his daughter, Eve. Martin sustained paralysis from the waist down due to the attack, while Eve endured severe brain damage. Court documents revealed that Hall spent years attempting to disprove their attendance at the concert.
Martin Hibbert expressed his outrage after the ruling, stating, “We shouldn’t have to face such allegations that the Manchester Arena attack never happened, and that our injuries were not as a result of the bombing.” He himself suffered from 22 shrapnel wounds during the attack. His daughter, who was just 14 at the time, now requires full-time care, as reported by his legal representatives.
In 2020, Hall published a video and a book, both titled “Manchester: The Night of the Bang.” In an attempt to substantiate his claims, Hall engaged in deceitful practices, including secretly filming Eve Hibbert at home, as well as knocking on the family’s front door and interviewing their neighbors, the court heard during proceedings.
Despite the family’s claims, Hall defended his actions, asserting he had the right to express his opinions publicly. An engineer by trade, Hall transitioned to publishing in 2009 after starting a website design business.
The ruling serves as a strong reminder, sending a very clear message to those who believe they can propagate absurd, harmful, and unfounded allegations against others, as conveyed by Kerry Gillespie, the family’s lawyer, following the court’s decision.