Paul Tweed on the Defamation Act

From the out set Paul has been an advocate for upholding the old legal code which is in line with the Republic of Ireland.

He certainly didn't like it on April 25 when the Defamation Bill became good law.

Press get their way with new defamation legislation at the expense of their readership’s right to redress #libelreform
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) April 25, 2013

Two days earlier he had suggested that Belfast could become capital for libel tourists:

Looks like libel litigants will now have to cross the Irish Sea to Belfast or Dublin in order to get access to justice.
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) April 23, 2013

He obviously didn't enjoy what he perceived as the one sided nature of the libel reform debate in Northern Ireland which he said was heavy on the pro-implementation corner. He said on Twitter over a series of tweets over a number of weeks:

Two English lawyers call for changes to our defamation law supported by Belfast Telegraph, in a totally one-sided article on Sat.
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) April 1, 2013

Last 3 articles on libel law in Belfast Telegraph take the biscuit on the balance and one-sided comment front!
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) April 30, 2013

Belfast Telegraph move to redress the imbalance in the libel reform coverage...bit.ly/18syKLR @beltel
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) May 2, 2013

Then something else must have come up:

Bel Tel have done themselves proud in yet more disproportionate coverage.
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) May 2, 2013

This was in response to the write up by Liam Clarke who profiled Paul Tweed. Read that here. Interestingly he said in the write up that he prefers to stand in Dublin as opposed to Belfast.

He clearly rebuts in the tweet below claims by Dr Colm Murphy who suggested that the non-implementation of the law could scare off investors.

#Belfast now the best UK city for companies to locate to protect their brands.Could be good news for NI economy! #defamation
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) April 25, 2013

Further rebuttal to claims that Northern Ireland has been short changed:

No mention of public being denied access to justice,as a result of already being treated differently to rest of UK.
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) April 1, 2013

An interesting interaction with Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson):

Newton Emerson should perhaps have checked this link confirming libel tourism as a "very rare thing in UK Courts"... bit.ly/aYuDJ3
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) May 14, 2013

@newtonemerson It will be v.difficult for a company to sue in UK if brand defamed b/c owner needs to establish substantial financial loss
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) May 17, 2013

In his interaction with Newton Emerson Tweed again rebuts earlier claims from Dr Colm Murphy that the old libel code could scare off investors. That was again in response to a Newton Emerson tweet:

@paul_tweed Perhaps you can explain why you think companies would need to move to Belfast to protect their brands?
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) May 14, 2013

@newtonemersonThey don’t need to relocate to Belfast but may be attracted to do so by our more corporate friendly approach to libel laws.
— Paul Tweed (@Paul_Tweed) May 17, 2013

Asked for an opinion on the legislative isolationism Newton Emerson responds:

@brianjohnspencr Don't see any positives from Wilson's decision, and do see plausible risks.
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) May 23, 2013