BBC bosses confirm they will NOT challenge Sir Cliff Richard privacy ruling over corporation’s coverage of police raid at star’s home ‘amid fears it would cost taxpayers millions’
- BBC will not appeal the Sir Cliff Richard privacy ruling, broadcaster announces
- The Beeb fears it could spark backlash from taxpayers over spiralling legal costs
- Bill for the case already tops £1.8millon, including damages to Sir Cliff Richard
- Sir Cliff says he ‘welcomes’ the decision and hopes ‘issues can be resolved’
BBC bosses have confirmed they will not challenge Sir Cliff Richard’s privacy ruling over their 2014 coverage of a police raid at his Berkshire home.
A High Court judge ruled the BBC had infringed the singer’s privacy, awarding him £210,000 in damages in July, and refused leave to appeal.
The corporation will now seek advice from the attorney general over how the ruling impacts future reporting.
Sir Cliff Richard said he ‘welcomes’ the decision and ‘hopes that outstanding issues can be resolved quickly’ .
Last month, a High Court judge ruled the BBC breached Sir Cliff Richard’s right to privacy after broadcasting police searching his £3million home in Sunningdale, Berkshire
A spokesman for Sir Cliff Richard told MailOnline: ‘Sir Cliff reluctantly took his case to court because he felt his privacy had been flagrantly invaded and disappointingly the BBC were not prepared to acknowledge that and apologise.
‘He welcomes the fact the BBC have decided not to seek permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal, particularly after the Judge gave his Judgment that they had no grounds on which to pursue such an action. Sir Cliff now hopes that outstanding issues can be resolved quickly.’
Last month, a High Court judge ruled the corporation breached the 77-year-old’s right to privacy after broadcasting police searching his £3million home in Sunningdale, Berkshire.
The broadcaster was given until Friday to decide if it will continue on with another appeal.
But today it announced it would not to move forward after seeking independent legal advice.
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The decision is thought to be down in part to fears it would cost millions. An appeal bid alone would have cost £200,000.
The spiralling costs of the BBC’s legal battle with Sir Cliff
– They have been ordered to pay the star £190,000 to cover the ‘general effect’ of the coverage.
– Plus £20,000 because the BBC had aggravated harm by nominating coverage for an award.
– The BBC has also agreed to pay £850,000 towards Sir Cliff’s legal costs, a figure which could rise.
– The corporation is also going to pay £315,000 to South Yorkshire Police for legal costs.
The Telegraph reported last week BBC executives were afraid of the wrath of the taxpayer.
The broadcaster’s bill already stands at £1.8million after agreeing to cover £850,000 in legal costs to Sir Cliff, in addition to £190,000 in damages, on top of its own legal fees.
Speaking last week, Sir Cliff’s lawyer Justin Rushbrooke QC, said the BBC shouldn’t appeal, adding: ‘It is about time the BBC took a realistic view of these facts.
‘The last thing my client wants is more time and money spent dealing with this.’
Last month, lawyers representing the BBC said the case had widespread implications and should be examined by three senior judges.
Barrister Gavin Millar QC, who leads the BBC legal team, said the damages award was ‘wrong in law’ and would have a ‘chilling effect’.
He added: ‘The risk is a severe chilling effect on the freedom of the press in relation to reporting police investigations.’
The police raid, which emerged after an exclusive tip off by officers and led to a TV helicopter being flown in, was part of a 2014 investigation into historical child sex allegations – but Sir Cliff was not arrested or charged.
From mansion raid to High Court: Timeline of the case
March 2014: South Yorkshire Police (SYP) receive an allegation against Sir Cliff Richard from Operation Yewtree – a Metropolitan Police investigation into historical sex offences in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. The complainant alleges he was molested by Sir Cliff during an event led by US preacher Billy Graham at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground in the 1980s.
June 2014: BBC reporter Dan Johnson receives a tip from a confidential source about Sir Cliff being investigated by police. The tip leads him to believe South Yorkshire Police is the force involved in the investigation.
9 July 2014: Dan Johnson has a conversation over the phone with SYP’s head of communications Carrie Goodwin. Towards the end of the conversation, he asks her if Sir Cliff is ‘on their radar’.
15 July 2014: Dan Johnson meets at police headquarters with Carrie Goodwin and Superintendent Matthew Fenwick, who is leading the investigation into Sir Cliff.
13 August 2014: Dan Johnson is notified that police will carry out a search of Sir Cliff’s home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, the following day.
14 August 2014: Police officers carry out a search of the singer’s home. The BBC broadcasts from the scene, using a helicopter to obtain footage of the search being conducted in the penthouse apartment. Sir Cliff sees the footage from a hotel in Portugal where he is on holiday.
September 2014: Sir Cliff withdraws from a fundraising concert at Canterbury Cathedral which was due to be broadcast by the BBC.
June 2016: The Crown Prosecution Service announces its decision not to bring any charges against Sir Cliff.
July 2016: Sir Cliff instructs lawyers to seek damages from the BBC and South Yorkshire Police over their handling of the police raid.
May 2017: The singer accepts £400,000 damages from South Yorkshire Police. The force offers its ‘sincere apologies’ to Sir Cliff.
April/May 2017: Sir Cliff’s case against the BBC is heard by Mr Justice Mann in London.
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