A survivor of the Manchester Arena attack has won a legal action against a man who said that the attack in 2017 was staged
Martin Hibbert and his daughter Eve sued former television producer Richard Hall over his claims that the attack was staged
They both suffered life-changing injuries at the Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, with Mr Hibbert left with a spinal cord injury and Miss Hibbert facing severe brain damage.
Hall had claimed in several videos and a book that the attack was staged and had harrassed Mr Hibbert and his daughter
Hall covertly filmed outside the Hibberts’ home to prove his theory
Martin and Eve Hibbert had been pursuing Richard Hall for harassment, misuse of private information and data protection infringement.
Today Mrs Justice Steyn said the Hibberts had won their harassment claim, but said she would not decide the data protection claim at this stage.
The judge said there was “powerful evidence that Mr Hall’s course of conduct caused Mr Hibbert to suffer alarm, distress and anxiety”.
And added: “Over a period of years, he has repeatedly published false allegations, based on the flimsiest of analytical techniques, and dismissing the obvious, tragic reality to which so many ordinary people have attested.
“He has done so for commercial gain, albeit I accept his evidence that the financial benefit to him has only been sufficient to enable him to continue his work. All of this conduct has a natural tendency to cause serious distress, especially when those targeted are vulnerable.”
Martin Hibbert described the decision as a “comprehensive victory”,
“I am really pleased with not only the overall judgment, but also the many comments of the judge as to how unacceptable Hall’s behaviour was.”
