Maurice Hayes (Independent)

Sir William Wilde complained, rather ruefully, that he had been charged £5,000 for the pleasure of seducing a young lady whose virtue was valued at a farthing. There is no justification for treating libel actions differently from other actions, where a lodgement in court is accepted. It is up to the court to decide what is the reasonable price to put on the hurt and what redress is required. The practice of lodgement in court is well tested. It should not be different in a libel action from any other action.