Two campaigners who were sued for libel by fastfood giant McDonald’s in 1997 are to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights today [Tuesday] to try to change UK libel laws.
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Helen Steel and David Morris, from north London, were sued by McDonald’s over a leaflet distributed in the 1980’s entitled “What’s wrong with McDonald’s? Everything they don’t want you to know.”
The case, which was heard in the High Court in 1997, was expected to be wrapped up within a few weeks, but instead lasted more than 300 days and cost McDonald’s thousands of pounds in lawyers’ fees. The two campaigners were eventually ordered to pay £40,000 (US$70,900) in damages but claim they were denied the right to a fair hearing because they were refused legal aid and had to defend themselves, reported BBC News Online.
The European court will also rule on whether the UK’s libel laws prevent freedom of speech.
“Ordinary people should be able to make criticisms that they think are valid about a company without having the fear of being sued for libel,” Steel was quoted by the BBC as saying.
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