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Rushdie wins apology for 'appalling lies' in book
Paul Cheston, Evening Standard26 Aug 2008
Sir Salman Rushdie today accepted an unreserved apology in the High Court from a former police driver who claimed the author had profited from the fatwa on his life.
Ron Evans, a convicted fraudster, also alleged Rushdie had been locked in a cupboard by his Special Branch protection officers while they went to the pub.
In his book On Her Majesty's Service, Evans went on to say Rushdie had been nicknamed "Scruffy" by police minders and that third wife Elizabeth West had married the author for his money.
The High Court heard today that these were just some of 11 falsehoods in the book, which has been pulped and will be republished with two chapters rewritten. Mr Justice Teare made a Declaration of Falsity against Evans and John Blake Publishing Ltd.
The publishers must now pay an estimated £20,000 in legal costs. Sir Salman has waived his right to libel damages which could have run to £100,000.
Outside court the author of the Satanic Verses and his solicitor Mark Stephens said other high-profile figures mentioned in the book, including Clare Short, Sir John Major and Lord Tebbit, may also take legal action against it.
"I am in favour of freedom of speech but facts are facts and lies are lies. These were appalling lies," said Sir Salman. "I'm very gratified by this outcome but it seems to me that this whole thing was an avoidable business.
"These were very serious lies about myself, Elizabeth West and the behaviour of the police force."
Sir Salman said he had never heard the nickname "Scruffy" but added: "I can tell you that Ron Evans is known throughout the police force as 'Dodgy Ron' and that nickname was proved when he was drummed out of the police force."
Evans was convicted in 2005 of nine counts of fraud for fiddling his expenses, was told to pay more than £6,000 in fines and costs and fired from the police force.
Sir Salman spent nine years in fear of his life after Iranian ayatollahs issued a fatwa against him in February 1989.
He was forced to live in various safe houses protected by Special Branch officers when police driver Evans came to know him.
In court today Rushdie's lawyer David Sherborne said Evans's book contained "a series of utterly and demonstrably false statements".
These included claims that Sir Salman was locked in a room because of his objectionable behaviour towards his protection officers; that they had asked him if they could buy wine from the cellar of his friend's house where they were staying; that Sir Salman had sought to write a book about his experiences; that the safe houses were at government expense rather than the author's own personal funds and that Sir Salman was unhygienic and suicidal.
The book also claimed former wife Miss West had married Sir Salman because of his wealth. Outside court she said: "I married him for his handsomeness, his good humour and his wit."
Mr Stephens said it would still remain "vulnerable" to further legal action when republished with the offending passages removed.
Theo Solley, representing the publishers and Evans, said they apologised to Sir Salman and Miss West "for hurt and damage they have suffered as a result of this book and accept the allegations complained of were untrue".
Reader views (1)
Nice to know some people are able to clear their names quickly with apologies once defamed and libelled. Sad to say the legal system often does not work this well. I have been waiting several years for long overdue apologies. My case lingers on in the courts.
- Elaine Decoulos, London and Massachusetts, 26/08/2008 18:18
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