On 4th December Friday, The Times apologised for incorrectly suggesting that an advocacy group supported a man who killed three men in a knife rampage in a Reading park.
The daily newspaper is expected to pay damages worth £30,000 to Cage and its outreach director Moazzam Begg after suggesting they excused Khairi Sadallah's actions. Sadallah has admitted three counts of murder but denies the stabbings in Forbury Gardens were terror-related. Saadallah’s lawyers have denied the attack was motivated by a jihadist ideology, The Guardian reported. He is now due to be sentenced this month after pleading guilty last month to three counts of murder. The Times had previously incorrectly accused Cage of excusing Sadallah's actions by reference to failings by the police and others.
"We apologise to Cage and Mr Begg for these errors and the distress caused, and we have agreed to pay them damages and legal costs," The Times announced.
In a statement to The Guardian, Mr Begg said, "Over the years, Muslims in Britain have become accustomed to reading sensationalist and defamatory headlines in popular newspapers. We can only hope that this settlement serves as a reminder to others that the truth is not negotiable."
In the meantime, Zillur Rahman, from Rahman Lowe Solicitors which represented Mr Begg, said, "It exemplifies the gravity of the allegations and provides the vindication to which Cage and Mr Begg are entitled."
