Kingstown, November 2016. Anthony Bailey, OBE, Delegate for the Caribbean of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, has made a formal legal complaint through Carter-Ruck solicitors against News784, in relation to an article published online on 7 November 2016 under the following heading: “Governor general revokes two knighthoods”.
The article wrongly claimed that there were “numerous allegations” in the British media that members of a delegation led by Anthony Bailey from the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George received knighthoods “in exchange for money”. In fact, this claim was false and those who granted the awards to Anthony Bailey and other members of the delegation received no payment or other remuneration for doing so. There were no such allegations in the British press either.
News784 has published the following retraction and apology in the newspaper’s online edition of 18 November 2016:
“An earlier version of this article wrongly claimed that there were “numerous allegations” in the British media that Nadhmi Auchi, and members of a delegation to Antigua and Barbuda led by Sir Anthony Bailey of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George received knighthoods in exchange for money.
In fact, this claim was false and we have amended the article accordingly. Those who granted the awards to Nadhmi Auchi and other members of the delegation received no payment or other remuneration for doing so. There were no such allegations in the British press either as we previously reported.
We apologise unreservedly to Nadhmi Auchi and the other members of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George and are happy to put the record straight.”
The apology is available at the following link:
https://www.news784.com/regional/retraction-and-apology/
The publication of the retraction by News784 follows that of Antigua’s Daily Observer published on their print edition of 16 November 2016 for a similar article.
“I am delighted to see the prompt response from News784 apologising for their wholly inaccurate article. I will continue to take such steps as may be appropriate to seek full vindication in respect of these false and highly defamatory claims”, said the Delegate, Anthony Bailey.
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.
