Freddie Starr loses court bid to halt ‘libel’

A HIGH Court judge has refused to continue an injunction granted to comedian Freddie Starr to prevent publication of what he says is a libellous allegation.

No details of the allegation were revealed during the ruling given by Mr Justice Tugendhat after a hearing in London.

An interim injunction was granted to Mr Starr’s lawyer by another judge on Wednesday night via a telephone application.

The case was heard in open court yesterday when a number of media organisations contested Mr Starr’s application for the continuation of the order.

Mr Justice Tugendhat said the case did not relate to confidential information, but to “words which are alleged to be libellous”. He stressed it was his intention that his judgment “should not undermine any remedy the claimant may have relating to the matters in question in this case”.

The original order made against 11 print and media groups referred to the fact Mr Starr was “seeking to prevent a false allegation being published”.