Libel damages for Fallon
Top jockey Kieren Fallon today accepted undisclosed libel damages over a claim that he made an unprovoked attack on a fellow rider.
The six-times champion jockey brought High Court proceedings over a February 2004 report in the News of the World.
His counsel, Andrew Monson, told Mr Justice Eady in London that it related to an incident which took place at Beverley Racecourse in September 1994.
It repeated a claim previously made by fellow jockey Stuart Webster that Fallon had made an unprovoked attack on him in the locker room at Beverley, viciously head-butting him and punching him repeatedly in the face.
This followed Fallon pulling Webster from his horse at the end of the previous race.
Mr Monson said that Webster accused Fallon of being at the head of a weighing room Mafia, and implied that he had used his influence to discourage witnesses from giving evidence in support of Webster at an inconclusive Jockey Club inquiry into the incident.
Webster also said that he was now suffering from short term memory loss as a result of the blows he had received to his head during his riding career, and that the blows inflicted on him by Fallon were the worst.
Mr Monson said that it had never been disputed that there was an altercation in the locker room between Fallon and Webster – however Fallon acted in self-defence.
Although Webster sustained a broken nose, he was able to ride again that day.
Fallon did not cause Webster to sustain any brain damage and was not responsible in whole or in part for Webster’s short-term memory loss condition.
He did not discourage any jockeys from giving evidence on Webster’s behalf at the ensuing inquiry.
Mr Monson said that News Group Newspapers Ltd was now willing to acknowledge the falsity of the allegations and had agreed to make a public apology.
It had agreed to pay a sum in damages to Fallon and his costs.
The newspaper’s solicitor, Joanna Workman, said that it specifically accepted that Webster’s unfortunate condition was not caused by or contributed to by the altercation that took place in the locker room at Beverley in September 1994.
It apologised to Fallon for the distress and embarrassment caused.
