Joey Barton has taken to X formerly Twitter to issue an apology to Jeremy Vine related to 11 posts that he wrote on the social media platform.
The broadcaster sued the former footballer for libel and harassment in the High Court over online posts in which he used a number of slurs and made unfounded allegations including calling him a bike nonce.
The former Manchester City player has agreed to pay £75,000 in damages and costs to Vine.
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“Between 8 and 12 January 2024 I published 11 posts which accused Jeremy Vine of having a sexual interest in children, and created a hashtag which made the same allegations, which were viewed millions of times. I recognise that this is a very serious allegation. It is untrue. I do not believe that Mr Vine has a sexual interest in children, and I wish to set the record straight. I also published posts during the same period in which I referred to Mr Vine having advocated forced vaccination during the Covid 19 pandemic, based upon a video clip of his TV programme. I accept that he did not advocate this policy and that the video clip has been edited to give a misleading impression of what he was in fact saying. I then taunted and abused Mr Vine for bringing a legal complaint against me. I have agreed not to make the same allegations again about Mr Vine and I apologise to him for the distress he has suffered. To resolve his claims against me in defamation and harassment, I have agreed to pay Mr Vine £75,000 in damages and his legal costs.”
“Between 8 and 12 January 2024 I published 11 posts which accused Jeremy Vine of having a
sexual interest in children, and created a hashtag which made the same allegations, which were viewed millions of times. I recognise that this is a…— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 18, 2024
But in a later tweet, Vine said: “The news of Joey Barton’s apology and commitment to pay damages and costs is not the final outcome of this case.
He wrote in a statement on X:
After five defamatory tweets, my lawyer offered Barton a chance to settle: pay £75k, plus my costs, and make an apology.
He ignored that offer and posted more disgusting tweets about me, even publishing my home address to his followers.
When I then took my case to the High Court, a judge ruled that TEN of the tweets I complained of were defamatory. Having lost, Barton has returned to the offer we made after tweet 5.
There has therefore been a parallel action on tweets 6-10 and Barton will pay further damages for these. A number of other steps — including statements made in Court by way of apology — are still to be taken, and Barton has agreed to pay my legal costs of all of the claims.
Jeremy Vine
STATEMENT REGARDING JOEY BARTON:
The news of Joey Barton’s apology and commitment to pay damages and costs is not the final outcome of this case.
After five defamatory tweets, my lawyer offered Barton a chance to settle: pay £75k, plus my costs, and make an apology.
He…
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 18, 2024
It looks very likely that Barton will have to pay substantially more to Vine.
