TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION............................................................................................1 THE RELEVANT BACKGROUND TO THE DISPUTE ...........................2 BRIEF FACTS ....................................................................................................2 PROCEDURAL HISTORY ....................................................................................5 THE ISSUES.....................................................................................................6 THE LAW ON A SUBMISSION OF NO CASE TO ANSWER .................8 THE APPROPRIATE MEANING TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGEDLY DEFAMATORY WORDS ..................................................11 WHETHER THE DEFENDANT HAS SUBSTANTIALLY PUBLISHED OR REPUBLISHED THE DEFAMATORY WORDS ..........................................................................................................................18 PUBLICATION ................................................................................................18 WHETHER THE BOUNDARIES OF DEFAMATION SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALTERNATIVE REGIMES .................................................................26 ARTICLE 14 OF THE CONSTITUTION ...............................................................29 WHETHER THE DEFENDANT HAS CAUSED THE PLAINTIFF LOSS................................................................................................................30 THE EFFECT OF THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND MINISTERS .....................................................................................................31 HAS THERE BEEN AN ABUSE OF PROCESS AND IF SO, WHAT IS ITS EFFECT ................................................................................33 THE DOCTRINE IN JAMEEL .............................................................................34 THE DOCTRINE IN DERBYSHIRE .....................................................................42 ii