Property purchase leads to unusual defamation case

A former Labour minister’s purchase of a mansion gifted to his community a century ago has led to an unusual defamation action against the moderator of a Facebook group in which allegations of “corruption” were made, The Herald newspaper reports.

Andy Kerr paid £180,000 for the John Hastie Museum, which was gifted to the town of Strathaven in Lanarkshire a century ago.

He bought it from a local developer who had himself bought it from South Lanarkshire Council.

And while there is no suggestion of wrongdoing, speculation on a Facebook group about an unnamed politician buying the property has led to a defamation action.

The seller has sued the moderator of the social media group, Paulo Quadros, 62, for £20,000.

A writ filed at Hamilton Sheriff Court states that David Bryson of Burnhead Group said posts on the Facebook group falsely alleged he “had been engaged in a criminal conspiracy in concert with a local politician to benefit that politician at the expense of the public”.

Mr Quadros did not write the posts – which themselves have since been deleted.

The action also relates to an email from Mr Quadros to Mr Bryson, which, Mr Bryson claims, states he may have been responsible for threats made to associates of Mr Quadros over Facebook. Mr Quadros denies this interpretation, according to The Herald.

Fraser Geddes, solicitor for Mr Bryson, said: “The Facebook posts, which initially caused our client some concern, and which did not appear to have been written by Mr Quadros, were eventually removed.

“While referred to in the court action, these posts were of secondary concern to our client, having by then been removed.

“His principal concern was the withdrawal of the statement made in his email, and an apology for that. It was his refusal or at least delay in doing so which resulted in this action being deemed necessary.”

Graeme Campbell, a local Conservative councillor, said: “I am very concerned that Mr Quadros has been pursued for something allegedly said by other people but not by him.

“I don’t think the council has done anything wrong. They sold the building in an open tendering process. And I don’t think Mr and Mrs Kerr have done anything wrong either. They have just bought a house.”