Martin Hibbert and his daughter, Eve, have successfully sued conspiracy theorist Richard Hall for harassment and data protection violations. This case marks the first legal action of its kind in

the UK against a conspiracy theorist. Hibbert, who was left with a spinal cord injury, and Eve, who suffered severe brain damage, were among the victims of the 22 May 2017 bombing at Manchester Arena.

Hall had publicly claimed that the bombing was a hoax and filmed Eve outside her home, arguing in court that his actions were in the public interest as a journalist. He also alleged that millions of people had "bought a lie" about the attack, which killed 22 people and injured hundreds as Salman Abedi detonated a homemade bomb following an Ariana Grande concert.

In court, Hall falsely claimed that some of those who died were either already deceased or living abroad and asserted that no one was genuinely injured in the blast. However, in a 63-page judgment, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in favor of the Hibberts’ harassment claim, finding Hall's actions deeply distressing and labeling his tactics an abuse of media freedom.

Martin Hibbert welcomed the ruling as a "comprehensive victory" and expressed his hope that the case would set a precedent to protect others from similar harassment. He intends to explore the possibility of establishing new legal protections in Eve’s name.

The court heard how both Martin and Eve suffered life-changing injuries from the bombing. Martin sustained 22 wounds from shrapnel, while Eve suffered a catastrophic brain injury and was presumed dead at the scene. Martin recounted the horror of seeing his daughter critically injured and being unable to help her.

Jonathan Price, representing the Hibberts, described how their lives had been irreparably changed by the attack. Kerry Gillespie, a solicitor for the family, emphasized the broader significance of the case, highlighting the growing problem of conspiracy theorists spreading harmful and baseless allegations. She noted that this ruling sets a legal precedent that could help hold such individuals accountable in the future.

This case, brought after a 2022 BBC investigation, is seen as a landmark victory for survivors of terror attacks and victims of conspiracy theories. It serves as a blueprint for challenging and bringing to justice those who spread false and harmful claims, offering hope to those who have previously felt powerless against such harassment. Photo by G-13114, Wikimedia commons.