At the High Court today the following joint statement was agreed.
On 29 April 2016, Jake Wallis Simons and Craig Murray appeared together on Sky News to debate anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom. Following that debate, Dr Wallis Simons issued libel proceedings against Mr Murray. Dr Wallis Simons and Mr Murray have now settled these proceedings.
By this statement, Mr Murray accepts that Dr Wallis Simons is not a liar, and Dr Wallis Simons accepts that Mr Murray is not an anti-Semite. They are both pleased to have resolved this dispute amicably.
I am genuinely happy with this outcome, which would never have been remotely possible without the incredible 5,000 plus people who donated to my defence fund and enabled me to be represented by a top legal team. It continues to be my view that the libel laws are appalling – had I lost the case I was very definitely looking at a cost of £350,000 plus.
I am also very grateful to the band of readers of this blog who arrived to support me, and in the end saw very little. When invited to open the case the other side immediately asked for an adjournment to discuss a settlement. The hour of delay which followed was occupied on our side almost entirely by my agonising over whether it was morally acceptable for me to agree this statement and use the defence fund to pay my lawyers, or whether those who donated did so in the expectation I would fight the case whatever.
There were a number of supporters at hand who had donated, many of whom were personally previously unknown to me, and the opinions I could canvass were unanimously that this was a good result and a good use of their money.
Having agreed to settle in this way, I have arrived at this following decision. If anybody who donated feels they have been unduly sold out, please let me know through the contact button above and your donation will be refunded to you.
When we started the defence fund, our “realistic” projection was a total of £12,000. That we eventually raised over £100,000 is astonishing. Equally astonishing, but in a bad way, is that my own legal team’s cost almost amounts to that – I will publish full accounts in due course. After all is settled and refunds issued to those who wish, if anything is left over I propose to split it between Andy Wightman’s defence fund and Neil Clark’s case against Oliver Kamm. Again please do let me know if you object. It’s actually your money not mine.
I did not realise how this has been weighing me down, until the threat has been lifted today. I have never claimed to be entirely without fault, and I would ask you to refrain from any comment here which detracts from the amicable spirit of the joint statement. It is a time for celebration not recrimination, and please confine any rudeness to remarks about me.
I think you made a correct decision in settling via the means that were offered. Pity, though, that the lawyers will still sook up most of the cash.
Also happy with your choice to send any surplus to the other two cases. (To lose Andy Wightman from Holyrood because he had to declare bankruptcy would be a heavy loss.)
P.S. If by happenstance you find that you don’t actually have enough to cover all costs then let us know on the blog – I, for one, would happily donate some more.
Great to see you did not lose as it must have been a huge worry for you and your family – I wish you had won the fight but I do not want my money back – I paid it so that you can continue with this brilliant blog – please be careful but not cowed and keep up the good work – a rant about Pritti Patel would do to start!
Craig you are a decent citizen I am so happy
A TO KNOW YOU AND
B TO KNOW THAT OTHERS FEEL ENOUGH TO SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR FIGHT TO DO THE RIGHT THING ,
PROBLEMS OCCURE AND I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE NOW SORTED OUT, IF THIS WAS NOT THE CASE I PERSONALY WOULD FEEL THRETTENED WITH POSSIBLE INJUSTICE in our society , IN THE END HOWEVER SOME SUCCESS AND WITH IT HOPE FOR JUSTICE IN OUR SOCIETY APPARRENTLY IS POSSIBLE
Good on you mate , one day I will come and invite you out for a drink
Regards peter
Bloody well done, sir!
Very happy that this affair is now behind you, Craig. As one of your (very minor) donators I am happy with the way the money has been spent & whatever you do with whatever is left over is fine by me. In fact, I suggest you treat yourself to a nice dram!
Good news, and a lesson learned in the lengths some are prepared to go to in order to silence you. Haven’t time now to look at the specifics of the case against Oliver kamm, but I’m happy to support it whatever it is. Keep up your good work!
A moral victory for you. I doubt if their concept of anti-semitism would have stood up in court.
Congratulations Craig, I hope you are feeling much relieved and happy after a serious brush with establishment nonsense.
Diplomatically done.
If there is any of my money left after the lawyers’ fees are paid you are welcome to keep it.
You provide a great deal of value and inspiration and put yourself out there in a vulnerable place. I was glad to have your back in this situation, even if it was only to the tune of a few pounds.
Relieved that what looked like a concerted attempt at assassination through litigation has been averted at the last moment, if not without some considerable cost.
Your suggestion that you split any surplus donation money (if any) between Wightman’s and Clark’s crowdfunding is absolutely fair.
Very pleased for you Craig. Now you can move on with your life. Just got to worry about Mr Clark.
I am happy to hear that this has made things better for you. You have a good mind and morals. I am sure that you will make good decisions on how to spend the donations. Thanks for your excellent work that makes the world better.
Shows that the case should never have gone near a court. Well done and take a break the stress must have been bloody awful.
Wow, not a Hillary for sure. That you would return donated money. Honesty and loyalty prevails. ???
When first we met at DtRH I sensed that you were preoccupied, and only when you blogged a week or two later about this case against you for the first time did the pieces fall into place.
I am so happy that this burden has been lifted from you, and that you may now sleep a little more contentedly.
Feel in essence this whole case is an abuse of the legal process. There should be appropriate reform of legal system to prevent rich folk intimidating ordinary mortals in this way !
Thanks Craig, I was happy to donate and happy with your proposal for any leftovers. All the very best to you
An expensive affair. Libel lawyers feast well on careless words and stubborn men. Glad it’s over and a settlement is always preferable. It just means you both lost. Choose your words and enemies carefully from now.
Best wishes
I am delighted at this outcome. You and your lawyers made the right decision . Your honour has been preserved. Fight on, Craig, on all your many fronts. Tony Kevin. .
What a really odd state of affairs, from the outset to the end it made so little sense for them to have tried to make a winnable legal case out of this situation. With hindsight I’m sure you will spend a lot of time questioning the motive and outcome, but for the time being take some time to fully rest and recouperate from the inevitable levels of stress incurred. Well done, it just should never have come to this!
The motives of Craigs case are not difficult to discern. Israel seeks to stifle all criticism of its policies of apartheid and suppression of its crimes against its Palestinian citizens.
Craig was seen as an easy mark. They did not expect the monetary support required for a legal team to fight the case. The intent was to bankrupt and silence him. There have been many cases such as this ,it is a well worn tactic of Israel and its puppets.
There appeared so little likelihood of success in court, that any private citizen with an ounce of common sense would have accepted Craig’s apology shortly after the event and been thankful at no counter lawsuit for stating on air that he was guilty of “anti-Semitism masquerading as anti-Zionism”. Which leaves one wondering who was really funding this sham trial, as most people don’t throw away their own money on such a lost cause so easily? It would be nice to know who ultimately picked up their legal costs, although I’m sure that will never be known.
Craig,
Only recently started listening to your podcasts and reading your articles but I have a great admiration for what you are doing in exposing the ugly underside of the British state. Glad this is behind you. Keep it up
James
Craig, Congratulations on what is most definitely a moral victory in your stand for Free Speech, and the amazing level of support you have received from people all over the world. I hope that many of the hundreds of people who have contributed to this thread over the last few hours, continue to post on your blog.
Whilst I am sure, that many of us would like your thoughts on current events affecting if not yet devouring the UK Government, I think it entirely reasonable that you take a break and switch off for awhile. You will be relieved, elated, but also completely exhausted.
Thank You & God Bless,
Tony
I’m happy with that outcome – on all counts. Sorry that you were put through such stress. Go well.
Excellent news. I am very happy for you and your family. Keep up the great work that you do. Best wishes.
So pleased that the suit has been settled out of court and am happy for any excess funds you left over should go the Andy’s defence fund and to Neil Clarke’s case.
Yes Craig, I believe it was me that gave you £100,000 as long as there are no follow up questions to this claim, I’ll happily take that money in either check or cash 🙂
Good result. Move on.
I’m glad this is over for you and look forward to reading more of your excellent work. My best regards.
You’ve done the right thing Craig. Please use my donation as you see fit – that was the spirit in which it was given.
Keep up your great work.
If thats the full statement and you do have to pay your legal team 100k that works out at over £200 per letter
the lawyers are the only winners.
Craig – many congratulations…as a small contributor to your defence fund, I fully support all the decisions you’ve made and proposed future actions.
Very glad the case was settled. Why lawyers are allowed to rob us blind is a mystery to me, what they do is not all that difficult.
Any left over cash going to fight that obnoxious Kamm will be well spent.
Good health and peace to you Craig, and carry on your good work.