From cyclingnews.com
Irish journalist files Swiss defamation
case
Irish journalist Paul Kimmage has
filed a legal suit against UCI president Pat McQuaid and former UCI
president Hein Verbruggen, accusing the pair of slander/defamation, denigration
and "strong suspicions of fraud".
The criminal complaint was filed in Vevey,
Switzerland today by Kimmage's attorneys on behalf of both Kimmage and his
fellow "whistle-blowers Stephen Swart, Frankie Andreu, Floyd Landis,
Christophe Bassons, Nicolas Aubier, Gilles Delion, Graham Obree and the
many others - who were brave enough to speak but were dismissed as 'liars',
'cowards', or 'scumbags' by Hein Verbruggen and/or Pat McQuaid."
I assume that Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid are starting to regret they ever started this!
The Paul Kimmage Defense Fund now stands at $86,074 with contributions from 2867 donors. Now that Kimmage has counter-sued the fund is likely to rise further. (Update: 2.11.12 – fund@$88,510.78 from 2978 donors.)
The Press Release by Bonnard Lawson, Kimmage's legal advisers:
The Paul Kimmage Defense Fund now stands at $86,074 with contributions from 2867 donors. Now that Kimmage has counter-sued the fund is likely to rise further. (Update: 2.11.12 – fund@$88,510.78 from 2978 donors.)
The Press Release by Bonnard Lawson, Kimmage's legal advisers:
Lausanne, 1.11.2012
By this release, the undersigned makes the public announcement that his client Paul Kimmage has sent today to the Public Prosecutor of Vevey a criminal complaint and denunciation against Hein Vebruggen, Pat McQuaid and unknown persons against whom Paul Kimmage requests the opening of a criminal investigation for slander/defamation, denigration and for strong suspicions of fraud.
By this 28 page document to which 55 exhibits are attached, Paul Kimmage complains, among other things, that he was dragged through the mud, that he was called a liar in public and accused in public of committing offences against the honour after he had obtained the publication of an interview by Floyd Landis in which the latter denounced the conduct of the highest officials of the International Cycling Union (UCI). In addition, Paul Kimmage informs the Swiss criminal authorities of the strong suspicions which weigh on at least Hein Vebruggen to have granted, directly or indirectly, the essential assistance which allowed Lance Armstrong to gain significant sums of money in and out of competition while he was doped.
Paul Kimmage has initiated these criminal proceedings not for himself but first of all in honour of the whistle-blowers – Stephen Swart, Frankie Andreu, Floyd Landis, Christophe Bassons, Nicolas Aubier, Giles Delion, Graham Obree and the many others – who were brave enough to speak but were dismissed as ‘liars’, ‘cowards,’ or ‘scumbags’ by Hein Verbruggen and/or Pat McQuaid.
By this release, the undersigned makes the public announcement that his client Paul Kimmage has sent today to the Public Prosecutor of Vevey a criminal complaint and denunciation against Hein Vebruggen, Pat McQuaid and unknown persons against whom Paul Kimmage requests the opening of a criminal investigation for slander/defamation, denigration and for strong suspicions of fraud.
By this 28 page document to which 55 exhibits are attached, Paul Kimmage complains, among other things, that he was dragged through the mud, that he was called a liar in public and accused in public of committing offences against the honour after he had obtained the publication of an interview by Floyd Landis in which the latter denounced the conduct of the highest officials of the International Cycling Union (UCI). In addition, Paul Kimmage informs the Swiss criminal authorities of the strong suspicions which weigh on at least Hein Vebruggen to have granted, directly or indirectly, the essential assistance which allowed Lance Armstrong to gain significant sums of money in and out of competition while he was doped.
Paul Kimmage has initiated these criminal proceedings not for himself but first of all in honour of the whistle-blowers – Stephen Swart, Frankie Andreu, Floyd Landis, Christophe Bassons, Nicolas Aubier, Giles Delion, Graham Obree and the many others – who were brave enough to speak but were dismissed as ‘liars’, ‘cowards,’ or ‘scumbags’ by Hein Verbruggen and/or Pat McQuaid.
Signed by Cédric Aguet
**
Leaving aside the rights and wrongs of the case, this is also turning into a fascinating study into the power of scoaila media. Ten years ago could Paul Kimmage have fought back and been donated a defense found that now exceeds $86,000?
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