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UK academic drops legal action against Catholic journalist

Published: November 15, 2012

The Principal of St Mary's University College, in south-west London, has dropped his legal action against a Catholic journalist who said she was prepared to go to prison rather than comply with a High Court order to name a source, reports The Tablet.

Professor Philip Esler announced on Wednesday that he would take no further action against Josephine Siedlecka, owner of the Independent Catholic News (ICN) website. A number of senior church figures had contacted Professor Esler about the action.

In a statement, Professor Esler said that he had instructed his solicitors to take no further action against Ms Siedlecka because continuing with it threatened to cause "reputational damage" to St Mary's.

"I have reached the view that any further action I take (especially given my position as principal) to vindicate my position, although fully justified and in fact vindicated by the High Court order this week, will only further increase the risk of damage to the University College," he said.

FULL STORY Academic drops legal action against Catholic journalist (Tablet)

 

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Recent Comments

  1. I'm the editor who was sued by Australian principal Esler.
    It was such a relief when three separate Church officials sent me a 'leaked' letter to the governors from him saying that he had decided to drop the case to protect the reputation of the college.
    A couple of papers also published this news.
    I was very shocked last night then to receive the Court Order by email.
    Next day the paper version arrived.
    I have until 23 November to reveal the name of a person whose letter I requested, published and edited last month.
    I have no intention of doing this. The penalty for contempt of court could be 28 days.
    It is not a nice feeling to have this hanging this hanging over my head.

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