London
Chris Packham makes false claims in legal statements ahead of impending court case
This is a notice for journalists and other interested parties:
As you may know by now, the Editor of Country Squire Magazine, Dominic Wightman, a writer Nigel Bean and his spellchecker, Paul Read, will be defendants in a civil defamation trial at the High Court starting on May 2nd, 2023, Ref: QB-2021-00122.
In recent press releases from the Claimant in the case, the former BBC Presenter Christopher Gary Packham, there have been some false claims made such as:
“It is deeply concerning to me that they (CSM) still seek to protect and thereby encourage the keeping of big cats in circuses and protect those who want to damage our environment through burning our uplands for grouse shooting….”
REALITY CHECK: Although this case is about tigers donated from a Spanish circus to a sanctuary which loaned them to Packham’s girlfriend’s zoo on the Isle of Wight, none of the defendants are circus activists nor have much if any interest at all in either circuses or zoos. The ‘articles complained of’ call out dishonest raising of funds – the animal rights v circuses argument is somewhat peripheral.
“Unfortunately, online abuse and hatred is commonplace in our society. People receive this for racial, religious, political, sexual and many other personal reasons….and can on occasion lead to people taking their own lives. …. I believe that it’s important that this case focuses attention on this type of abuse….none of the defendants accusations have any truth…”
REALITY CHECK: The defendants rely in the case on the defences of Truth and Public Interest. To imply publicly at this stage in proceedings that the articles complained of are not factual and in any way represent ‘online abuse or hatred’ is outrageous when the Truth of the articles complained of shall be decided in trial next week, at least whether a premeditated fraud occurred. There has been no online abuse nor hatred from the defendants, that’s a misdirection play.
Online abuse and hatred are precisely what the defendants have been receiving since the litigation started – from hunt sabs, extremists and trolls who support and have been encouraged by the Claimant. There are multiple records of this abuse with the police which are also part of the documents submitted to court. So this is a classical DARVO from Packham’s team.
There are other nonsensical comments doing the rounds of the Claimant’s allies’ websites describing the defendants as ‘trolls’, ‘animal haters’ and ‘online abusers’. Again, this is all somewhat desperate and smeary. For clarification, please get in touch. None of the defendants are trolls, animal haters or online abusers.
Other media outlets have incorrectly described Country Squire Magazine as a ‘pro-hunt magazine’ when for many years the Editors have sought anti-hunt contributors but have never received any material from them.
Please get your facts straight.
Packham, after years with the BBC, has stronger social currency than the defendants but he will not be allowed to smear them.
Country Squire Magazine is a popular platform for the British Countryside with over 70,000 people subscribed to its electronic copy and houses an eclectic mix of articles from political to opinion to rural to film review articles. A few articles concern hunting, some are about shooting, and some are about rewilding – the bulk of articles are about politics or focus on social commentary. The Editor has never been hunting or shooting, the writer Mr Bean has a horse and used to hunt, while Mr Read is not involved in hunting at all.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
- If any journalists would like to discuss any of these matters with the press officer appointed for this case, please make contact via pwbrcase@protonmail.com
- During the trial Mr Wightman and Mr Bean will make themselves available for interview/comment. Again, please contact the press officer to arrange access. Many thanks.