BBC bosses have vowed to defend themselves towards Sir Cliff Richard's authorized motion within the wake of studies accusing him of historic sexual assault.
Particulars of the BBC's defence have emerged from paperwork lodged by attorneys on the Excessive Court docket in London, pending the beginning of any courtroom hearings.
They deny that the singer, who has offered greater than 250 million data worldwide, is entitled to compensation: a declare he made following a raid on his dwelling in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014.
The 76-year-old singer sued the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after publicity of the raid, saying the BBC added 'insult to damage' by getting into its protection in a 'Scoop of the 12 months' journalism contest.
BBC bosses have vowed to defend themselves towards Sir Cliff Richard's authorized motion within the wake of studies accusing him of historic sexual assault
The BBC filmed police raiding Sir Cliff's dwelling in 2014 (pictured) and the singer is now suing the information organisation for the protection, saying the publicity added 'insult to damage'
Legal professionals representing Sir Cliff say he suffered 'profound and long-lasting' injury.
Particulars of Sir Cliff's complaints had been revealed in October in paperwork lodged by his attorneys on the Excessive Court docket in London.
Amongst their statements, his attorneys say he has offered his house as a result of the prospect of dwelling someplace which had been 'so publicly violated' distressed him.
They added that the furore threw his 'inventive and enterprise plans' into disarray, compelled him to delay the discharge of an album of 'rock 'n' roll classics' and made him run up greater than £1 million in attorneys' payments.
He's alleging that his privateness was invaded and desires 'very substantial' damages.
Legal professionals say the BBC broadcasted a 'main story' on the day of the raid after making an settlement with South Yorkshire Police, who contravened steerage on 'relationships with the media'.
A BBC spokeswoman stated on Wednesday: 'As we've got stated on a number of events, we're very sorry that Sir Cliff Richard has suffered misery.
'Nevertheless, we've got now submitted our response to this declare and can defend ourselves vigorously. Our place has not modified from what we've stated beforehand.
'VILE ACCUSATIONS' THAT WERE BROUGHT TO A CLOSE
The singer referred to as the investigation a 'horrible' interval of his life
Sir Cliff Richard was the topic of a prolonged South Yorkshire Police investigation, centring on the accusations of 4 males courting between 1958 and 1983.
The investigation was sparked in April 2014 after an nameless man stated he was sexually assaulted by Sir Cliff in 1983 at a rally in a Sheffield stadium for the US evangelist Billy Graham. A number of others got here ahead and accused the pop singer of abuse.
The unique declare was later discovered to be affected by inaccuracies and the primary man to accuse Sir Cliff was discovered to endure with 'extreme' psychological sickness and schizophrenia.
Sir Cliff was by no means arrested or charged and his case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in June, citing 'inadequate proof to prosecute'. The singer referred to as the investigation interval a 'very troublesome' and 'horrible' time of his life.
After the investigation was delivered to an in depth, Sir Cliff stated: 'I've all the time maintained my innocence, co-operated totally with the investigation, and can't perceive why it has taken so lengthy to get so far.
'Nonetheless, I'm clearly thrilled that the vile accusations and the ensuing investigation have lastly been delivered to an in depth.'
'It's the BBC's accountability to report totally tales which can be within the public curiosity. Police investigations into distinguished figures in public life are, in fact, squarely within the public curiosity, which is why they've been reported by all information organisations on this nation.
'As soon as the South Yorkshire Police had confirmed the investigation and Sir Cliff Richard's id and knowledgeable the BBC of the timing and particulars of the search of his property, it could neither have been editorially accountable nor within the public curiosity to decide on to not report totally the investigation into Sir Cliff Richard due to his public profile.
'The BBC, at each stage, reported Sir Cliff's full denial of the allegations.
'The BBC, due to this fact, stands by the choice to report the investigation undertaken by the South Yorkshire Police and the search of his property.
'Sir Cliff has made the argument that the id of individuals beneath investigation into historic allegations shouldn't be made public till they're charged. This view raises vital questions concerning the scrutiny of the police and public confidence that allegations are investigated.
'That stated, we respect the truth that he's making an vital assertion within the debate over balancing privateness rights with the general public curiosity.
'In the end, although, deciding whether or not individuals ought to stay nameless whereas the topic of a police investigation is a matter for Parliament.
'The House Affairs Choose Committee reviewed the editorial selections made by the BBC and concluded: "We see nothing fallacious of their resolution to run the story".'
On the centre of the row is the collusion between regional BBC correspondent Dan Johnson, detectives and police press officers.
On July 14, 2014, 11 days after allegations towards Sir Cliff had been handed to the drive by Scotland Yard, the journalist made contact to say he had obtained a tip-off concerning the singer.
Gavin Millar QC, who's heading the BBC's authorized workforce stated: 'Mr Johnson didn't make any menace, nor did he strong-arm South Yorkshire Police into making any settlement.'
He stated the BBC wouldn't have run the story with out data offered by the officer main the case 'on his personal initiative'.
A press officer despatched Mr Johnson an online hyperlink to an aerial picture of the singer's house block and advised him they had been 'entering into now Dan' so he may get his cameraman and helicopter in place.
Sir Cliff stated he felt 'publicly violated', and the BBC had added 'insult to damage' by getting into its protection for an award.
However the BBC claims that his dwelling was within the public area, Sir Cliff had no proper to privateness as a search warrant had been granted and there was a reputable public curiosity in airing the story.
A BBC spokeswoman stated on Wednesday: 'It's the BBC's accountability to report totally tales which can be within the public curiosity'
Mr Millar stated: 'It's denied that the protection was sensational, extreme, disproportionate, humiliating or intrusive.
'It's admitted that the claimant suffered misery. The BBC has already advised the claimant it is vitally sorry that this was the case.'
Yesterday Sir Cliff's spokesman stated: 'We can't remark in any element because of the ongoing litigation.'
Regardless of authorized tensions between the BBC and Sir Cliff, each events look like mending fences, not less than within the public eye.
In November, Sir Cliff appeared on The One Present, calling his relationship with the information organisation 'simply tremendous'.
Host Alex Jones stated: 'Cliff, we've got to say that that is all somewhat bit awkward.
'We have by no means had a visitor on the couch who's suing the BBC. Some individuals attempt to sue us after the present, however by no means earlier than.'
The BBC returned the favour solely weeks later by making Sir Cliff's new Christmas launch its report of the week.
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