Sunday Times pays libel damages to former MP

Published on 29/06/2012 01:42

A FORMER Labour MP has accepted undisclosed compensation and an apology over a claim that he bribed Muammar Gaddafi’s son.

Adam Ingram, who represented East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow until standing down at the 2010 election, brought libel proceedings over a November 2011 Sunday Times story.

His solicitor, Andrew Stephenson, told Mr Justice Eady at the High Court in London that it referred to an internal investigation by the London School of Economics into donations it received from a foundation of Saif Gaddafi.

It alleged that Mr Ingram was responsible, through a company said to be headed by him, for making a secret £100,000 payment as a bribe to Saif Gaddafi in order to secure contracts for his company in Libya.

Mr Stephenson told Mr Justice Eady that the allegation was untrue.

From June 2008 to July 2009, Mr Ingram held a non-executive position as a consultant to the company to which the article referred; he was never a director nor involved in the management of the business.

Mr Ingram had no knowledge of any payment to Saif Gaddafi or to any foundation in Libya. He had never met Saif Gaddafi, had any dealings with him or any foundation of his.

Jonathan Scherbel-Ball, counsel for Times Newspapers Ltd, said it took the view before publication that as a matter of public interest the company’s name and Mr Ingram’s association with it should be disclosed.

The newspaper relied on Mr Ingram’s entry in the Parliamentary Register of Members’ Interests and tried to contact Mr Ingram before publication.