Eni Aluko Celebrates Victory After Joey Barton Ordered to Pay £339,000 in Libel Case
Former England footballer Eni Aluko has emerged victorious in a high-profile libel case against Joey Barton, with the High Court ordering Barton to pay a substantial sum of £339,000 in damages and legal costs. The ruling comes after a protracted legal battle stemming from social media posts made by Barton in 2024.
Court Hearing Details and Barton's Absence
During a hearing at the High Court on Tuesday, it was revealed that the case had been stayed, with Barton facing a significant financial penalty. Notably, Barton did not attend the proceedings. His barrister, Gervase de Wilde, informed the court that Barton had been arrested the previous day and was currently held in custody, adding a dramatic twist to the legal saga.
Aluko's Reaction and Social Media Message
Roughly three hours after the hearing concluded, Aluko took to Instagram to share her relief and gratitude. She posted a video showing her smiling and giving a thumbs-up while walking away from the court building. In the caption, she wrote, "We reached the final line," and later elaborated in a separate post.
"It's been a two year marathon but we reached the finish line today," Aluko stated. "Thank you to my brilliant legal team Judith Thompson (Samuels Solicitors), Luke Browne (5RB) and lead Counsel Gervase de Wilde (5RB) and thanks to my dear family and friends and everyone who has supported."
Speaking to reporters outside the London court, Aluko simply said, "I'm glad it's over." According to a court order reviewed by the Press Association, Barton must pay the £339,000 total, with the first £100,000 plus interest due by March 24. Mr Justice Lavender granted Barton seven days to request any changes to the order.
Details of Barton's Social Media Campaign
During the hearing, barrister Gervase de Wilde, representing Aluko, outlined the extent of Barton's actions. He stated that Barton had wrongly accused Aluko of "cynically seeking to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying" and labelled her a hypocrite. Between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts targeting Aluko on his X account.
De Wilde described this as a "deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification" by the former Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers manager. One particularly egregious post included an image of Aluko's head superimposed onto the body of serial killer Rosemary West, which de Wilde highlighted as part of "an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality."
Impact on Aluko and Barton's Admission
The barrister emphasized that Barton's campaign caused Aluko enormous distress. He noted that whenever Aluko attempted to defend herself against Barton and his followers, she faced further criticism and attacks. Aluko reportedly feared that any effort to stop the harassment would be exploited and manipulated by Barton to use against her.
In a significant conclusion, de Wilde revealed that Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Aluko constituted harassment and that he should not have made the publications. This admission underscores the severity of the case and the court's decision to impose substantial damages and costs.
The outcome marks a decisive victory for Aluko in a legal marathon that has drawn widespread attention, highlighting issues of online harassment and libel in the sports and public spheres.
