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'Ugly' judge defeats her mother in libel battle
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent1 Dec 2008
A mother lost a libel case today against her barrister daughter who claimed she had suffered a childhood of neglect and cruelty.
Constance Briscoe, a part-time judge, made the claims in her book, Ugly.
Her mother, Carmen Briscoe-Mitchell, 74, said the allegations were a "piece of fiction" and that they had enjoyed a loving relationship within a happy family.
She sued her 51-year-old daughter and publishers Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, who brought out her memoir in January 2006. Both denied libel and said the book was substantially true.
During an emotional 10-day hearing at London's High Court, Ms Briscoe told Mr Justice Tugendhat and a jury that her mother repeatedly beat her with a stick for bed-wetting, called her a "dirty little whore" and drove her to attempt suicide by drinking bleach.
She said that she had plastic surgery to remove the "ugliness" with which her mother taunted her.
The jury's unanimous verdict came after more than a day of deliberation. Outside court, Ms Briscoe broke down in tears. She said she was happy with the verdict and added: "It is sad that my mother still feels the need to pursue me. Now I just want to get on with my career."
Mrs Briscoe-Mitchell's counsel, William Panton, had claimed the mother of 11 had struggled to bring up her children to the best of her ability, providing for them equally.
The assertion was supported by Ms Briscoe's siblings.
Despite Ms Briscoe painting a picture of being regularly punched, kicked and beaten by her mother, she had not complained to police, social services or teachers.
"There were opportunities to complain about ill-treatment - if that ill-treatment had in fact taken place." Ms Briscoe, he added, was "spinning a yarn".
Andrew Caldecott QC, for Ms Briscoe, said the events occurred between 1964 and 1975 when Mrs Briscoe-Mitchell was not a vulnerable elderly lady but in her prime.
He claimed the household was in fact "deeply unhappy" and that Mrs Briscoe-Mitchell was a strict disciplinarian who clashed with some of her other children apart from Constance. The core question was whether Ms Briscoe was "a fantasist or a malicious inventor" or had "done her best to tell the truth of what was a very unhappy childhood".
"This is a book which has its share of errors, but it was properly put in the biography section of a bookshop, not in the fiction section."
Reader views (7)
Im soo speechles,bt yet soo proud of Constance. Not many people speak up about abuse,let alone publicly speak about it. Mrs Briscoe,till now im still confused over why she had to abuse Constance,and make her go through such an ordeal,no mother in their right mind could do that. To me she was a monster,and should've been to the dog home.. As a 21year old running towards my dream of being a civil engineer,i am well inspired by the book to believe in me,and to not forget that whatever i do,i do it for me.. It's not just a book, but Constance's life.. I give the book 10 out of 10..
- Nomfundo Maphanga, South Africa, Kzn, 26/01/2010 22:36
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My heart went out to dear 'Clearie' in every page her story was told. What amazes me is the thought that no adult would stay strong through such injustice, let alone an innocent child. I went from disbelief to anger, hopelessness to a sense of utter powerlessness, and as my tissues piled up I was left with a sense of overpowering motivation, knowing that if I set my heart to something, anything, just like Constance, I too can overcome all obstacles.
- Annelie Modupe, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA, 11/12/2009 11:20
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I seriously never had a book this honest, inspirational and really heartbreaking.
What I want to say is that I really have lots of respect for Constance Briscoe, and that it must took a lot of courage to confrontate with your youth by writing this.
- Michelle Hagen, Gouda, The Netherlands, 11/12/2009 10:20
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I just finished reading 'Ugly' a few days ago. I tried to get a friend to read it but she said she could not. She said it is too painful, as she had been told about the book by friends. I also tried to spur my sister to reading it and told her bits over the phone, she too said she could not bring herself to read it. I must say, that when I started reading the book it did not waste any time getting into the hardcore stuff. I wanted to cry many times, it had hit me in the stomach and at times I wanted to be sick that I had to put my hand over my mouth. I was even close to putting the book down for good. I so believe in Constance as this was a true account of her childhood. It is a pity that her mother had taken her diaries away as she was leaving her in the house to fend for herself, as they would have been living proof of what actually took place, I guess ! Although I was born in the 70's it is obvious that such behaviour did go on. I did not suffer abuse but my mother was very strict in the household. The house had to cleaned every single day as I arrived from school, I mean top to bottom. My mother has 4 of us and we all had to do it. My mother was very strict, more than my dad. Unfortunately Constance mother never looked over her and her mother was never conscious to the fact that she was abused by two men as they visited or stayed in the house. My mother was on the ball she never wanted my sister and I to be amongst our brothers friends when they visited the household.
- Louise Fernand, Middlesex, United Kingdom, 11/12/2009 10:20
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I am reading the book now and I have tears every night when I am in bed reading it. I am so thankful that I have the best mum in the world.
I have deep respect towards You tho. Keep the spirit Constance :))
- Lauma, Geraldton,Western Australia, 11/12/2009 10:20
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I read the book and this brought back to me my own upbringing; the behaviour of the Mother is typical of a lot Mothers and Fathers bringing up children in the fifties and sixties. To them ruling with an iron fist was necessary for them to instill discipline.
Parents in those days really took the passage from the bible to heart " Spare the rod and spoil the child"
I wish Constance Briscoe well in her career and for the future. When I read the book, it made me reflect on my own past as I am sure it will do for most people who have experienced this type of upbringing.
This was cruelty of the worst kind, from someone who should have loved, but hated and persecuted for her own failings as a Mother.
Well done Constance, for the courage and dignity you have displayed, truly inspirational.
Memories of me walking slowly to get a tree swtich will never be erased.
- Anthony Thomas, Manchester, 11/12/2009 10:20
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i've just read your book and omg its horribel how you were treated but very well written but its amazing how brave you are to go thought it all on you own.
i bet even if you didnt have plastice surgery you would be beautiful.
i might be yound but i know that, that must been so hard to go through.
i wish you all the best in your life and i hope its full of joy and happiness.
- Heather Mcivor, Tewkesbury England, 11/12/2009 10:20
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