Member Article

Appeal benefits from defamation payout

A Sunderland business has donated £5000 to a North East children’s charity after winning a defamation case at the High Court in London.

The Gentoo housing group has already donated £17,500 to the Grace House North East Children’s Hospice Appeal in the past year, and decided to add to that figure the damages awarded in their successful defamation case against the Dadsplace website.

Dadsplace was set up in July 2004 and contained a forum where users could place comments anonymously. Following this, false personal and defamatory material about Gentoo and its staff was posted on the site.

Dave Crawford, Gentoo Group Chairman decided to donate the awarded legal damages to Grace House. He said: “It is a shame the case had to go to court but the internet is no different to any other place of publication, and if somebody is making defamatory comments about people then they should be held responsible for it.

“We are really pleased to be able to continue to support Grace House with this donation. It is such a worthy cause and we recognise the value and significant difference they will make to children and families around the North East.”

At present, the North East has the lowest number of hospice beds for children compared to the rest of the country. Grace House North East Children’s Hospice Appeal has been set up to raise funds to build a new home from home for very sick children across the North East.

Kathy Secker, Founder of the Grace House North East Children’s Hospice Appeal, said: “The Appeal is extremely grateful for this latest donation from Gentoo. Their continuing support is much appreciated and sets a fine example of corporate citizenship at its best.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .