A person who used anonymous Twitter accounts to make defamatory remarks about Stephen Nolan has apologised and agreed to pay a six-figure damages sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BBC radio and TV presenter traced the identity of the person who was behind an online campaign against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement issued by the person’s lawyer, they admitted that the claims they made were “totally unsubstantiated and without foundation”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Nolan said: “This should be a warning to all trolls.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The individual admitted running a campaign which “involved the systematic dissemination of false and defamatory allegations” against Mr Nolan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They had been behind the Pastor Jimberoo and Pastor Jimberoo’s Ghost accounts on Twitter and had also created an online petition against the presenter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The aim of the petition – based “entirely on false and defamatory allegations” – was to undermine and damage Mr Nolan’s professional reputation, they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I unreservedly apologise to Mr Nolan for any distress caused and confirm that the aforesaid Twitter accounts have since been deleted,” they added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The individual’s statement was issued by their Belfast-based lawyer Kevin Winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Pleading for anonymity’
Mr Nolan, who presents shows on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 5 Live, said the individual had been running a “malicious campaign designed to undermine me and hinder my journalism”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I am deeply grateful to the BBC, who will always judge me fairly on its editorial standards rather than the lies this individual attempted to propagate,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The broadcaster said he would no longer tolerate the “vile abuse” aimed at him as well as other journalists, politicians, public figures and private citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme he found the online campaign “scary” at times and decided “enough was enough”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It got to the stage where I felt helpless and I don’t feel helpless in my life, it’s not how I run my life,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The criminal law couldn’t protect me and so I decided ‘you know what? I’m going to fight back’.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said he would “love to” meet the person responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The important thing for me is to send out a very, very, strong message that if you get off on abusing people you will be tracked down and you will have a high price to pay,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The individual said they had agreed to pay a six-figure sum in damages as well as Mr Nolan’s legal costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul Tweed, the libel lawyer acting for Mr Nolan, said the “troll” had been traced and notice of the legal action had been served to him in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“There was immediate contrition and categoric statements of regret, with the individual pleading for anonymity due to his expressed personal security concerns,” said Mr Tweed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Despite this attempt to destroy his reputation with falsehoods, Mr Nolan has agreed not to name this individual, dependent on his future conduct.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Tweed said that legal letters had also been issued to other people and action would be taken against those who published or spread similar false allegations about Mr Nolan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A person who used anonymous Twitter accounts to make defamatory remarks about Stephen Nolan has apologised and agreed to pay a six-figure damages sum. The BBC radio and TV presenter traced the identity of the person who was behind an online campaign against him. In a statement issued by the person’s lawyer, they admitted that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n