London, July 2016. Anthony Bailey, OBE, Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, has made a formal legal complaint through Carter-Ruck solicitors against the Mail on Sunday, in relation to articles published in the print and online editions of the newspaper under the following headings:
- “Queen’s envoy ‘Baroness Brazen’ is entangled in honours scandal: Title given to Commonwealth chief’s crony is ‘reviewed’ after she is accused of abusing the system” – published on 29 May 2016 and written by Ned Donovan and Ian Gallagher.
- “Baroness Brazen bought top Commonwealth job in ‘utterly corrupt process’: Former Labour Cabinet Minister accused of buying her position by giving bogus ‘knighthoods’ to five Caribbean leaders as MPs demand inquiry into bombshell claims”– published on 5 June 2016 and written by Ian Gallagher, Ned Donovan and Simon Murphy.
The articles make a series of false allegations against Anthony Bailey, including in his capacity as Delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George. Indeed, the newspaper has already been forced to concede that one of its key claims against him is false, and has been notified that Anthony Bailey is bringing a complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) for its failure to publish a correction and apology to him for such an egregious error.
In a statement, the Delegate said: “The allegations that have been made by the Mail on Sunday are totally unfounded, and are now the subject of a legal complaint for defamation. I will continue to take such steps as may be appropriate to seek full vindication in respect of these scurrilous and unfounded claims.”
The Delegate understands that a separate statement has been issued by HE Baroness Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth which also firmly rejects the allegations made against her in the same publications by the Mail on Sunday.
For further information please contact Dominic Garner or Nigel Tait at Carter-Ruck solicitors on 020 7353 5005, or via email at: dominic.garner@carter-ruck.com and nigel.tait@carter-ruck.com.