Jennifer Arcuri seen in an image taken from an ITV interview
(Picture: ITV)Broadcaster Andrew Neil has won permission to serve a libel claim on US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri after she allegedly linked him to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The former BBC host and GB News chairman, 72, claims his reputation was damaged by two Tweets posted in December last year from Ms Arcuri’s account, during a debate on the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines.
A defamation claim was filed in February, and the case came before a judge, Master Dagnall, on Wednesday afternoon for permission for the legal papers to be served on Ms Arcuri at her Florida home.
Mr Neil is seeking damages and an injunction to stop Ms Arcuri from repeating her alleged slur.
In his ruling, the judge noted he had not heard argument from Ms Arcuri and only had evidence put forward by Mr Neil’s legal team.
“In the circumstances where real allegations are being made that the Tweets of Ms Arcuri and alleged defamatory meanings were published to a substantial number of people within the jurisdiction, and a substantial number of people had their opinions of Mr Neil lowered as a result of the Tweets, it seems to me that there is a good argument…that a claim is being made in tort where damage was sustained within the jurisdiction”, he said.
The libel case stems from a Tweet in which Ms Arcuri is accused of posting an alleged picture of Epstein’s so-called “little black book” of contacts, said to include Mr Neil’s name.
Mr Neil claims readers of the message and a second Tweet would have been led to believe he “is a paedophile and is or was complicit in the abuse of child, as part of a paedophile ring with Jeffrey Epstein”, the court heard.
Ben Hamer, for the broadcaster, said the allegation is “wholly false” and Mr Neil denies ever meeting Epstein. He said a public interest defence to the libel claim would be “fanciful”.
The judge accepted Mr Neil is well-known in the UK, and says the alleged damage would be done to his reputation in this country, and he was told Ms Arcuri has two businesses registered in London and has a public profile.
“The claimant is a well-known public figure and personality with a very considerable reputation – a reputation as a result of particular media activities”, he said.
“The defendant is also well-known, both in this jurisdiction and possibly elsewhere. She was a businesswoman in London for a number of years and because of an asserted relationship, personal and of a business nature, between her and Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of this country.”
The judge added that he is “not reaching any conclusions regarding asserted activities.”
After the first Tweet was posted, Mr Neil replied on the social media platform to say: “I have clicked to follow you. Please DM your address/contact details so my lawyers can serve legal papers against you for this clear libel and defamation. I’ve instructed the papers to be drawn up now. All those tweeting support for and spreading her tweet will also be served.”
Ms Arcuri responded by saying: “You really are threatened by me @afneil. Thank you for confirming. Now the world sees exactly what you are.”
In another he said his legal team “has prepared a massive case against you and we’ll be seeking exemplary damages”, adding papers would be served in the UK and US.
Following Wednesday’s hearing, the paperwork can be served in the US to start the libel case in front of the court in London.
