Teacher wins Friends Reunited libel case

A retired teacher has won damages after being libelled by a former pupil on the Friends Reunited website.

Jonathan Spencer was ordered to pay £1,250 in damages after posting messages saying that his former teacher Jim Murray had been sacked after making "rude remarks about girls" and for "strangling" a pupil.

Mr Murray, 68, took action after friends alerted him to the comments on the site, which is aimed at bringing former classmates back together.

The comments were removed after Mr Murray, who taught languages at Ridgewood Comprehensive in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, until 1983, complained about the untrue claims and said that he had retired. He described the Friends Reunited website as "pernicious".

After a hearing in private before District Judge Andrew Maw at Lincoln County Court in March, Mr Murray said: "I didn't give 32 years of teaching for someone to besmirch my name. It is a character assassination and I am afraid Friends Reunited is much to blame. It is giving immature young people the chance to have a go.

"That goes all over the world, but the worst bit is when it comes next door. People shun you. It brings you hatred, ridicule and contempt."

Before the settlement, believed to be the first of its kind, Mr Murray had rejected "insulting" cash offers of £400 and later £1,000 and a written apology from Mr Spencer. He had been seeking damages of up to £5,000.

Mr Murray, of Lincolnshire, said he was disappointed with yesterday's award. Mr Spencer was also ordered to pay £150 in costs.

Mr Spencer, himself a teacher at a school in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, admitted that the comments he posted were libellous but said the damages should be nominal.

Addressing Mr Murray, Mr Spencer said: "It was a virtual conversation between ex-pupils. With hindsight it was a stupid remark.

"I didn't join Friends Reunited to assassinate your character."

He said the site had carried the words only for a day and that they would have been seen by only a few people.

District Judge Maw said Mr Murray had a right to feel aggrieved. "He has lost his professional character, which cannot be given back."

Friends Reunited has millions of registered users. It was set up by a husband and wife team, Steve and Julie Pankhurst, at their home in Barnet, north London.