Daily Star pays out for false Raoul Moat story (original) (raw)

The creator of the video game Grand Theft Auto accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages today for an "entirely false" story in the Daily Star.

As I reported in July, the Star incorrectly claimed that Rockstar Games was planning to launch a version of its popular game based on the exploits of the gunman Raoul Moat.

But the solicitor for Take 2 Inc (Rockstar Games), Melanie Hart, told high court judge Mr Justice Tugendhat that the paper published its false story without contacting the company first.

The Star's story claimed that the new game – Grand Theft Auto Rothbury – would be based on the tragedy which culminated in the events in the Northumberland village leading to Moat's death.

She said that the newspaper solicited and published quotes from third parties, including one from a grieving relative of a victim of Moat, in which the alleged plan to create such a game was described as "sick" and deplored in the strongest terms.
In its leading article, the newspaper commented that the people behind the production of the game were "questionable idiots" who were making money out of other people's misery. Hart said that Express Newspapers had admitted that it did not approach the company for a comment before publication.

She said: "The defendant now accepts that Rockstar Games never had any intention to create such a video game at any time. The story was entirely false."

She added that the newspaper had agreed to pay substantial damages and the company's legal costs.

Clare Kissin, for Express Newspapers, said the Star accepted that the allegations were untrue and apologised for the upset and damage caused.

The Star carried a lengthy apology soon after its "mistake" came to light.

It should be noted that the Star, owned by Richard Desmond, has a history of publishing false stories and carrying apologies afterwards.