He had to apologise and that is all that is all that needs to be said. Although from his comments he either meant the apology that he put on his website or he had his fingers crossed at the time and stands by his libelous comments against a respected company and the people who run that company.
In the High Court today (8th November 2005) Paul Flynn MP for Newport West, through his solicitor, apologised unreservedly for the damage caused by allegations he made against Endowment Justice and its Directors.
He also agreed to place an apology on the home page of his website and has agreed not to repeat again the same or similar allegations. He will pay damages of £1000, which Endowment Justice has donated to the NSPCC, and costs of £35,450.
In February of this year Paul Flynn made certain statements about companies providing professional services in relation to endowment policy compensation claims. Despite having spoken to Endowment Justice he linked these libellous allegations to them.
He then repeated the same allegations to a journalist from Money Marketing which published his statements in an article.
Paul Flynn now accepts that these allegations concerning Endowment Justice are completely false.
Marianne Fitzjohn, Director of Endowment Justice commented: "This whole case has been extremely stressful for all of us at Endowment Justice. We set up Endowment Justice to be a champion for people who were getting short shrift from the financial institutions when they have legitimate claims for endowment mis-selling.
"We believe that we have been in the vanguard in trying to ensure that financial institutions behave properly and stop misleading their own clients. We have been in regular contact with the FSA and the FOS concerning the behaviour of both the larger financial institutions and the IFAs who inappropriately sold these endowment policies.
"We have also repeatedly called for the endowment claims companies to be regulated as we recognise that there are examples of bad practice. Endowment claimants should be very discriminating in choosing a company, which can help them in making their claim.
"We repeatedly asked Paul Flynn to apologise and withdraw his comments. Even when we went to law he still simply refused to respond. We reluctantly brought this action to vindicate our reputation, because our reputation and integrity are of paramount important to us and integral to how we run our business.
"We are delighted that the whole matter is now over and are very pleased that it was a term of the settlement that a contribution would be made to charity. The damages will be paid to the NSPCC."
Mr Flynn agreed to pay Endowment Justice's legal costs of pounds 35,450, plus pounds 1,000 in damages, which the company has said it will donate to the NSPCC. The MP will also publish an apology on his website.
Marianne Fitzjohn, a director of Endowment Justice, said the company had been angry about being criticised for sharp practices because it believed it had played a leading role in campaigning against such behaviour. 'We repeatedly asked Paul Flynn to apologise and withdraw his comments,' Ms Fitzjohn said. 'We have also repeatedly called for the endowment claims companies to be regulated as we recognise that there are examples of bad practice.'
**The apology:
On this website in February this year, I made certain statements referring to Endowment Justice Limited, one of the companies which offers assistance in obtaining compensation for those people who were mis-sold endowment policies. I have been campaigning against companies providing professional services in relation to endowment policy compensation claims, but my facts about Endowment Justice were incorrect. As a result, I wrongly accused the company and its directors Nick Keca, Marianne Fitzjohn and Graeme Webber of having previously mis-sold endowment policies and now dishonestly overcharging those self-same victims to help them obtain compensation. I am happy to clarify that neither Endowment Justice Ltd or any of its directors were ever involved in any aspect of endowment policy selling. It was therefore false and unfair to suggest that they had profited from the historic mis-selling of endowment policies. I was also incorrect in stating that Endowment Justice, which offers its services in recovering compensation on a “no-win, no-fee” basis, could charge its customers up to 40% of any compensation gained. Endowment Justice in fact charge customers 17.5% plus VAT or 22.5% plus VAT of any compensation gained. I was wrong to give the unintended impression that the company or its directors acts in any way improperly or unlawfully in providing services to those seeking compensation for endowment policy mis-selling. I would like to apologise to Endowment Justice for my allegations, and to Mr. Keca, Ms. Fitzjohn and Mr. Webber for any embarrassment or distress caused by my false remarks.
2 people have spoken:
It should be clear to the voters of Newport West that Flynn is not fit to stand as an MP. If he had any credability he would have resigned at the time he admitted his libel offence. His entire time in the House of Commons has been wasted on legalise cannabis campaigns. Although recently he has raised awareness of a Tsunami hitting Newport. Not sure if the paranoa from his one campaign has affected judgement for his EDM!
Indeed re the drugs point he has been quiet on that of late. Maybe he has changed his view with regards legalising dope.
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