What source told the the 3am gossip bitches the good news?
Mirror in libel payout
The Daily Mirror has been ordered to pay libel damages to party organiser Fran Cutler over an allegation that she had leaked stories about her celebrity friends.
In the high court in London today the paper accepted there was no truth in the allegations on its 3am showbusiness gossip page that Ms Cutler had agreed to sell stories about her friends, but after being discovered she backed out of the agreement and fled to Spain.
The story had also falsely claimed that she was no longer a party organiser, was not on friendly terms with Kate Moss and Sadie Frost and was not invited to a party thrown by Moss and Jade Jagger in Ibiza.
"I would never dream of leaking or selling confidential information about my clients or famous friends and I have always prided myself on my reputation for absolute discretion in all my business activities," Ms Cutler said.
Her solicitor, Kevin Thorpe, told Mr Justice Tugendhat that the allegations were a slur on her personal and professional integrity and had caused her considerable distress.
Mr Thorpe said Mirror Group Newspapers had withdrawn the allegations unreservedly, apologised and agreed to pay Ms Cutler damages and her legal costs.
Ms Cutler, who runs a business called 2 Active, regularly appeared in the tabloids in the 90s due to her friendship with Meg Matthews, the former wife of Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.
Sarah Tandy, solicitor for the Daily Mirror, said MGN regretted the allegations and apologised.
mediaguardian
