Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney

Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney

The court found that Ms Vardy, through her agent Ms Watt, leaked information from Ms Rooney's Private Instagram Account to The Sun, and that Ms Vardy knew, condoned, and actively engaged in this conduct. The single meaning of the defamatory statement was found to be substantially true, defeating the libel claim.

Parties
Claimant: Rebekah Vardy; Defendant: Coleen Rooney
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
29 July 2022
Procedural Posture
Libel Claim / Final Judgment After Trial
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Truth Defence, Public Interest Defence, Destruction of Evidence, Source Protection, Social Media Disclosure
Defamation Media Law Truth Defence Public Interest Defence Destruction of Evidence Source Protection Social Media Disclosure

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Parties

Rebekah Vardy

Claimant

Coleen Rooney

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Claim / Final Judgment After Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the defendant established a defence of truth under s.2 Defamation Act 2013
  2. 2 Whether the defendant established a public interest defence under s.4 Defamation Act 2013
  3. 3 Whether the claimant leaked information from the Private Instagram Account to The Sun

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that Ms Vardy, through her agent Ms Watt, leaked information from Ms Rooney's Private Instagram Account to The Sun, and that Ms Vardy knew, condoned, and actively engaged in this conduct. The single meaning of the defamatory statement was found to be substantially true, defeating the libel claim.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed