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

The Story of the Defamation Act in Northern Ireland (so far...)

The Press Gazette and other publishers recently suggested that the unilateral Sammy Wilson decision not to pass a 'legislative consent motion", which would have implemented in full the Defamation Act into Northern Ireland law, could hurt the devolved province. Lord Lester, the Liberal Democrat architect of the new libel law said the decision was a "very bad step" for the public.

Charon QC Law Tour Podcast: John Cooper QC on Social Media and the Law

John Cooper QC and Paul Chambers of #TwitterJokeTrial

Below are the blunt words of Keir Starmer QC, the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Why the bluntness? The former head of public prosecutions in England and Wales was obviously angered by the criticism delivered by experienced criminal silk, John Cooper QC (@John_Cooper_QC) who cast doubt on the newly published (December 19 2012) interim social media prosecution guidelines. Here's what he said:

“Well I don’t think John Cooper with all respect has seen anything like the number of cases I have. I don’t think he has thought about the sophistication of the issues. There are many cases…I mean he can point to one case [the Twitter Joke Trial]…yeah he makes a cheap point about one case. I've got to deal with the many thousands of cases that come in; I've got to deal with all the chief constables. So, yes, nice cheap point, but actually let’s get back to reality.”