Doctor wins damages for bomb plot allegation
Tuesday 27th April 2010, 2:22PM BST.
A former Shropshire doctor cleared of involvement in the London and Glasgow car bomb plots today accepted “substantial” libel damages at the High Court.
The hearing was over false newspaper allegations linking him to terrorism.
Dr Mohammed Asha, who has previously worked at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, launched legal action after The Sun carried a front page article last August under the heading “Terror case doc works in casualty”.
Solicitor Leo Dawkins, representing Dr Asha, told a judge in London that the allegations were that “there were very strong grounds to suspect that the claimant would be involved in the future in terrorist bomb plots and was, therefore, an ongoing threat to national security”.
He added: “There is no truth in these allegations whatsoever. The article complained of was published to millions of people and has been devastating for the claimant, causing him immense damage both personally and professionally.”
Mr Dawkins said the defendant, News Group Newspapers, publishers of The Sun, “accepted that the allegations complained of were entirely false and without foundation”. The defendant had offered to pay Dr Asha “substantial compensation and his legal costs”.
Patrick Callaghan, solicitor for News Group Newspapers, told Mr Justice Eady: “The defendant offers its sincerest apologies to Dr Asha.” Dr Asha said in a statement: “The damage caused by The Sun has been incalculable, causing both myself and my family immense hurt and distress, not to mention worries over my own personal safety.”
Dr Asha was cleared of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions at Woolwich Crown Court in 2008.
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