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Nine year battle ends in victory "If you know you are innocent you just keep battling on until someone listens. There is nothing else you can do." Christopher Lillie Nursery nurses win libel case Two former nursery nurses have won a legal battle for libel damages over allegations they sexually abused children in their care. Ms Reed and Mr Lillie were acquitted of all allegations Dawn Reed, 31, and Christopher Lillie, 37, were awarded �200,000 each at the High Court on Tuesday after a nine-year battle to clear their names. Ms Reed and Mr Lillie, were in court to hear the announcement by Mr Justice Eady in London that he had found the allegations against them "untrue". The judge rejected their claim for libel against Newcastle City Council, but upheld it against the four authors of the report, entitled Abuse in Early Years. All defendants had contested the action. Speaking after the judgement, Ms Reed said she was "dazed, relieved" and "lost for words." Mr Lillie told BBC News he was always confident he would have his day in court. He said: "I'm glad it's all over. I'm sorry it's taken nine years. "If you know you are innocent you just keep battling on until someone listens. There is nothing else you can do." Ms Reed and Mr Lillie sued the authors of a report which they say had a "devastating and ruinous" impact on their lives. The report came out four years after the pair were acquitted of sexual offences against children in their care 'Complete vindication' Mr Justice Eady said: "What matters primarily is that they are entitled to be vindicated and recognised as innocent citizens who should, in my judgment, be free to exist for what remains of their lives untouched by the stigma of child abuse." Speaking outside the court, solicitor Richard Osborne said that Mr Lillie and Ms Reed had not only proved their innocence but had shown that the authors of the report calling them "child abusers" were dishonest and motivated by malice. He said: "Complete vindication is what Chris and Dawn sought from this court and what they now have by this judgement. "Chris and Dawn have had to listen to lies, untruths and obscene allegations made against them." During the hearing their counsel, Adrienne Page QC, said the report was released into the public domain without warning in "what we suggest was an act of extraordinary irresponsibility and callous indifference". She said: "Publication of this report was utterly devastating and ruinous for Chris and Dawn and their respective families." |