Hudgell Solicitors is representing Manchester Arena bombing survivor Martin Hibbert in a civil claim for harassment and data protection breaches, against Richard D Hall – a man who has publicly claimed the bombing never happened, and that people have since faked injuries.
Mr Hibbert was left paralysed from the waist down as he protected his daughter, who was also seriously injured from the blast.
At the High Court this week Mr Hall has defended the legal case against him.
The trial before Mrs Justice Steyn concluded on Friday 25th July and a decision is expected in writing at a later date.
Outside court, Martin Hibbert made this statement:
I would like to thank my team at a Hudgell Solicitors and my barrister Jonathan Price.
They and I believe this has been an extremely important case to bring to court.
We live in a society where free speech and the right to express a genuinely held opinion must be protected, but when those beliefs and actions are inaccurate, offensive and damaging, and cause harm to those who have already suffered so badly, people must be challenged.
Actions that in this case have led to further anxiety and distress.
We shouldn’t have to face such allegations that the Manchester Arena attack never happened, and that our injuries were not as a result of the bombing – we certainly shouldn’t have needed to be here in court to make a stand and to protect others from this kind of behaviour.
For many families affected by the bombing it is struggle every day, even now more than seven years on, to comprehend what happened, and the impact it has had on their lives. They should never have to face such hurtful claims and I hope this case sends out a clear message that it will not be tolerated.
I will now liaise with my legal team, my media contacts, politicians and decision makers about Eve’s Law: a new law to better protect survivors of tragedies from harassment and conspiracy theories. Watch this space….!