'Dr Botox' must pay €110k to Paddy dad

Celebrity's libel over rugby ace rape case for 'vile' online abuse

- BY ALAN ERWIN

THE father of rugby player Paddy Jackson is to be awarded £100,000 (€110,000) in libel damages for false claims he tried to pay off the complainant at his son's rape trial.

Peter Jackson secured the payout against reality TV personality Danielle Meagher - known as 'Dr Botox' - over the false claims she posted on social media.

Delivering his judgment at Belfast High Court yesterday, Master Mark Harvey insisted there must be consequences for her “vile” allegations.

He said: “There seems to be a sense in some quarters that there is an online cloak of invisibility leading people to type things on a keyboard they may never utter in person.

“Such cowardly online bile causes real-life hurt and upset to other people and damages their reputation.

“The message needs to be out there that when someone posts baseless and libellous accusations online, the repercussions can be very serious.”

Mr Jackson, 69, said he felt fully vindicated after the seven-and-a-half year defamation battle.

He added: “My family and I have suffered a constant barrage, and it’s still not too late for an apology for these false accusations.”

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