Welsh Language Twitter Libel Case

CARDIFF, Wales - May 20, 2013 - PRLog -- Cefin Roberts and Gwion Owain have reached an amicable settlement in a Welsh language Twitter libel case following a recent retweet by Mr. Owain on his personal Twitter page of a defamatory original tweet by a yet to be identified Twitter user calling itself ‘Cadno Canna’.  Mr Owain completely accepts the retweet was defamatory and entirely untrue of Mr. Roberts.  

The settlement includes a full apology from Mr. Owain to Mr. Roberts and his undertaking never to publish any defamatory statements about Mr. Roberts, Ysgol Glanaethwy or its staff and pupils in the future.  Mr Owain will pay an undisclosed amount of damages and costs to Mr.Roberts, the damages of which will be used in part to promote Ysgol Glanaethwy’s work, such as scholarships, sponsorships and travelling costs to competitions.  An apology will be published on Mr Owain’s Twitter page in both Welsh and English.

Cefin Roberts commented:

“Whilst the content of the retweet was very hurtful, grossly untrue and defamatory of me I accept the unreserved apology, damages and costs from Gwion Owain who I should add sought to apologise and settle this case as soon he was aware of his error.  This has been a very distressing time for me and my family but I was determined to clear my good name and reputation which has now been completely vindicated and restored by this settlement”.

Gwion Owain commented

“The retweet by me of the original tweet by Cadno Canna was completely wrong and was only initially intended in humour I entirely accept the terrible anguish and upset it has caused Cefin, his family and Ysgol Glanaethwy generally and I also accept that it is both defamatory and completely untrue.

I am very well aware of the excellent work that Cefin has done in Wales with generations of young people who indeed include a number of friends and acquaintances of mine and would not wish the retweet in any way to distract from or diminish that work or the excellent reputation he has built over many decades for both himself and Ysgol Glanaethwy.

A number of my closest friends are former pupils and even in their mid-30’s still recall the transformative experiences they enjoyed under Cefin’s tutelage.  I admire Cefin greatly for his talent, dedication, and enterprise and for the years of work he has invested in developing the abilities and character of young people in Gwynedd and throughout Wales.  I apologise profusely to Cefin, his family and Ysgol Glanaethwy for any distress caused and wish them well in future.  The fact that the damages agreed will go in part towards the expenses of Ysgol Glanaethwy is a source of comfort to me and I know it will be spent well in bringing both benefits to Glanaethwy pupils and enjoyment to audiences worldwide”.

Cefin Roberts Solicitor, Nigel Jones of JMD LAW, Cardiff, who successfully brought the first Twitter Libel civil case to Wales in March 2011 said:  

“Yet again, this case brings home the implications and consequences of comments made on social networking sites; if they are untrue in that form, it is as if they had been published in a newspaper or magazine and the effect is the same; the law of defamation does not provide a defense to a defamatory comment or statement just because it is made on a social media site.  It is trite law that a retweet on your page of a defamatory statement initially made by another person has the same consequences for you as if you were the original author of it which is exactly what happened in this case.  I am delighted this case has been concluded to restore the domestic, national and international unquestionable reputation of Cefin Roberts and Ysgol Glanaethwy.  We continue our enquires in relation to the identity of the person behind Cadno Canna and I should be pleased to hear from any of your readers who may be able to assist in that respect (please email: nigel.jones@jmdlaw.co.uk)”.

There will be no further comment from either party.