News of the World apologises and pays damages to Derek Simpson

News of the World pays libel damages to Unite union leader Derek Simpson
The News of the World has apologised to Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite trade union and has paid libel damages after the paper falsely claimed he breached election rules to give himself an unfair advantage.

Derek Simpson sued the News of the World for an article that appeared in October. It alleged that he had been guilty of a breach of election rules and misusing union funds which gave him an unfair advantage in Unite's election in March.

The newspaper's solicitor told the high court that it wished to make clear that it had been entirely mistaken in publishing the allegations, adding: "It did so in reliance on a source which it believed to be reliable. As such, the News of the World apologises to Mr Simpson for this article and for the distress and embarrassment it has caused him."

The News of the World claimed Derek had sent a mailshot to Unite's members six weeks before the election and as a result was to be fined £100,000 or would have to retire early. The paper's allegations were wholly untrue.

The News of the World's publisher, News Group Newspapers, (that's Rupert Murdoch just in case you didn't know), a subsidiary of News International, had apologised and agreed to pay Derek Simpson damages and his legal costs.