Wells planning legal action after no prosection decision

Wells planning legal action after no prosection decision

21 October 2015

FORMER Health Minister Jim Wells has launched legal action against media outlets for defamation following confirmation he will not be prosecuted over remarks about gay marriage.

The South Down MLA, who lost his ministerial post amid the furore that broke out following his comments at a general election hustings event in Downpatrick in April, has vowed to continue to fight to clear his name through legal proceedings against outlets that ran an incorrect story.

With plans to sue some of the 1,800 organisations that published stories indicating that he said gay parents were more likely to abuse children, he said he felt he had no choice but to pursue legal action against them because of the destruction to his reputation and career.

Mr Wells hit the headlines around the world when he was reported to have made homophobic comments in response to a question posed to MP candidates about their position on same sex marriage.

He faced widespread condemnation when he appeared to suggest children brought up by gay couples were more likely to face abuse or neglect with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg commenting to say Mr Wells had “lifted the lid on some really unpleasant views.”

Much of the reaction was based on a short video clip posted online after the hustings, which Mr Wells insisted had been taken out of context.

Police launched an investigation to assess whether or not a crime had been committed by Mr Wells and later sent a file to the Public Prosecution Service which on Friday confirmed the case did not meet the test for prosecution.

A PPS spokeswoman confirmed potential offences had been considered under the Public Order Order 1987 with particular reference to stirring up hatred.

“Included in the evidence examined by prosecutors was a 30 second video clip which was widely circulated on social media after the event was staged in Downpatrick. The police also provided a longer tran of a recording of the entirety of the man’s comments,” she said.

“On examining the available evidence for the incident reported, in particular the entirety of the transcript of the man’s comments, it was concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that any offence was committed.”

Mr Wells said he felt vindicated and relieved by the decision, which he said finally drew a line under an incident that had dominated his life for the past six months.

He said he would now concentrate his energies on attempting to restore his reputation through legal action.

“The next step is to take court action against many individuals,” he said.

“I am going to take action against those who created this falsehood and those who spread it. I now want to establish the fact that I did not say what was alleged.”

Mr Wells said he remained angry that he lost his post as Health Minister as a result of the furore and said it was a job he had relished for eight months.

“I had a wonderful team of staff and just felt I was getting to grips with my role when it was taken from me. I would delighted to be in that role again but the decision is not mine.

A spokesman for the DUP has welcomed the PPS’s announcement that it will not prosecute Mr Wells.

“These events over the recent past and the associated unfounded allegations have caused considerable distress to Jim and his family,” he said.

“There should never have been any question of Jim facing prosecution in relation to this matter and the announcement from the PPS is long overdue.”

Mr Wells yesterday said he planned to donate any money raised through his first case to the Christian Institute.