Two Manchester Arena survivors have filed legal action against a conspiracy theorist who claims the attack was faked.
This is the first-time action of this type taken against a conspiracy theorist in the UK – as such a landmark legal action.
Father and daughter Martin and Eve Hibbert are suing Richard D Hall for defamation and harassment.
Martin was paralysed from the waist down and Eve was left severely disabled by the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, which killed 22 people.
Last year, a Radio 4 podcast series and BBC Panorama investigation revealed that Richard D Hall tracks down survivors to their homes and workplaces to see if they are lying about their injuries.
Hall admitted that he spied on Evie Hibbert from a vehicle outside their home.
He has also sold a book in which he described his tactics, and promoted theories online that other UK terror attacks were staged.
The Hibbert family is now seeking an injunction to restrain Hall from making similar allegations in future and damages for some of the harm he has caused them.
Figen Murray OBE commented on the news of legal action on Twitter by congratulating Martin and Eve Hibert.
“Good for them to take legal action against these people,” she said.
She added: “It is totally unacceptable and despicable invasion into their privacy.”
Figen Murray OBE has been the strongest campaigner for Protect Duty – also known as Martyn’s Law in the memory of her son, Martyn Hett, who tragically lost his life in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 along with 21 people.
(Source: BBC)