Mitchell v News Group Newspapers Limited

Mitchell v News Group Newspapers Limited

The court found, on the balance of probabilities, that Andrew Mitchell did use the words alleged or something so close as to amount to the same, including the word 'pleb', towards police officers at Downing Street. The police officers' accounts were accepted as truthful and not fabricated or collusive. The...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Claimant: Andrew Mitchell; Defendant: News Group Newspapers Limited; Claimant: Toby Rowland; Defendant: Andrew Mitchell
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
27 November 2014
Procedural Posture
Defamation / Judgment
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Libel, Qualified Privilege, Police Conduct, Public Order, Credibility of Witnesses
Defamation Media Law Public Law Libel Qualified Privilege Police Conduct Public Order Credibility of Witnesses

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 1 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Andrew Mitchell

Claimant

News Group Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Toby Rowland

Claimant

Andrew Mitchell

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Defamation / Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Andrew Mitchell used the words alleged by PC Rowland, including 'pleb', towards police officers at Downing Street
  2. 2 Whether the published account by News Group Newspapers Limited was defamatory
  3. 3 Whether the police officers fabricated or colluded in fabricating the account of the incident

Ratio Decidendi

The court found, on the balance of probabilities, that Andrew Mitchell did use the words alleged or something so close as to amount to the same, including the word 'pleb', towards police officers at Downing Street. The police officers' accounts were accepted as truthful and not fabricated or collusive. The claimant's denial was not determinative given the evidence and analysis of the incident.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed