03/02/2020 J20 v Facebook Ireland Ltd [2016] NIQB 98 (20 December 2016) a day on Facebook's Apps. It and other social networks have revolutionised the way in which members of the public obtain and share information. [3] In this action the plaintiff brings a claim against the defendant in relation to a series of postings about him on three web pages hosted by Facebook. [4] In the course of the evidence given at this trial the plaintiff gave evidence about a whole series of postings about which he complains. Some of these were specifically referred to in the medical evidence which was served in support of his claim. It is important therefore at the outset to identify precisely which postings are the subject matter of this action and upon which the court must base its judgment. [5] The first relates to a web page entitled "Irish Blessings". On that page on 11 September 2013 there appeared a photograph of the plaintiff standing in front of a Union flag. The plaintiff is named and the words "Meet Sectarian Parade Organiser" is superimposed on the photograph. The flag contains the words "Lower Shankill". The photograph is juxtaposed against a posting calling for people to attend a protest on Saturday 21 September in relation to a decision by Belfast City Council to restrict the flying of the Union flag at City Hall. A number of comments are posted on the page including the following: "Another Loyalist bigot exposed. Wee (J20's first name) organises more Loyalist parades and protests than you can shake your fleg at, he is as bitter as the day is long. #tagsectarianscumbag- page on 11 September 2013; My daughter had three children to this scum woman beating snake who can't string two words together, he can only mumble. He deleted his children of his fb page because their names are Catholics. He must be full of Diazepam cause he is the biggest coward I have had the misfortune to meet. Love the page by the way." – post on 12 September 2013 by [X]. He has Catholic children who he doesn't bother with. Probably because they are Fenians" – by [Y] on 12 September 2013." [6] The second relates to a webpage entitled "Belfast Banter". On 14 September 2013 the page contains a photograph of the plaintiff. He is shown in outdoor gear in a public place holding up a fish in his hands towards the camera. Superimposed on the photograph are the following words: "That's a tout so it is. Said the fish." On the same date there is another photograph of the plaintiff taken in a public place with Union flags in the background with the following words superimposed: "I'm not gay but my boyfriend thinks I am." On the same webpage there also appears a photograph of the plaintiff standing in front of what appears to be the same flag as referred to in the Irish Blessings webpage with the following words superimposed: "They said I could be anything So I became a lonely jobless flegger. I'm a woman beater and take the odd Diazepam so I do." This appears to have been posted on either 14 September or 16 September 2013. [7] Finally on the webpage "Ardoyne under Siege" exactly the same photograph as appears on the "Irish Blessings" page is posted on 12 September 2013 with the following words posted: "(The plaintiff's full name) parade organiser knuckle dragger bigot share and shame people." This was posted on 12 September. [8] All the relevant posts were deleted or removed by 9 October 2013. www.bailii.org/nie/cases/NIHC/QB/2016/98.html 2/17