CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 9/3/2026
In 2020 I published a book and some films reporting on my detailed independent investigation
into the 2017 Manchester Arena Incident. As part of my reporting I expressed opinions based
on the evidence, detailing what I believe took place, which were contrary to the official
narrative which had been put out by the government and the media.
In late 2022, the mainstream media ran an extensive smear campaign against me in relation to my
investigative activities and published work.
In early 2023 legal action was launched against me in order seek an injunction and damages, which
would effectively sensor certain things that I reported.
In January 2024, before the trial took place, the High Court made a judgment which meant that all
of the evidence I intended to present to the Court in my defence, was to be excluded from the up
coming trial.
A 4 day trial took place in July 2024, and in October 2024 a judgment was made against me for
harassment. As a result of this judgment an injunction was imposed, and costs and damages
are now being sought, totalling some £279,000.
In July 2025 a statutory demand for the money was issued, and following this a court hearing
was held in August 2025. At this hearing I intended to present legal arguments as to why
any bankruptcy proceedings should be delayed, until my case has been considered by the European
Court of Human Rights. I was informed in multiple letters from the Court that the hearing was
a directions hearing, which simply sets a date, a location and directions for the future hearing.
However, when I attended the hearing with my barrister, the judge informed me that that this was
the actual hearing, not just a directions hearing. I had been given no notice whatsoever that
it was the actual hearing, therefore had not prepared a proper statement nor submitted any evidence to the court.
And it appears that the other side HAD been informed, because they submitted their skeleton argument
before the hearing took place.
Following this hearing, a bankruptcy hearing was held in January 2026. I represented myself and
presented arguments to try to persuade the court to delay the bankruptcy proceedings until the
European Court has considered my appeal against the original judgments. The judge requested that
I put these arguments in writing, and ordered another hearing.
Another hearing took place on 23rd January 2026, where I presented my arguments to try and stay
the bankruptcy proceedings. The judge did not make a ruling, and referred the case to another
court, the Business and Property Court in Cardiff, for a hearing which is scheduled for 8th May 2026.
Every ruling against me by the UK courts has been appealed by me every step of the way, and by May
2025 I had exhausted every avenue in the UK Courts to appeal the judgments. So, on 25th September 2025
(which is within the 4 month time limit), I submitted an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
The appeal sets out 12 separate occurrences where my human rights were violated by the judgments,
2 violations of article 10, the right to freedom of expression, and 10 violations of article 6, the
right to a fair trial. I am seeking for the ECHR to request a retrial in which my evidence can actually
be heard, and thus ultimately overturn the judgment. The appeal contains a considerable amount
of European case law, involving cases where journalists in similar situations to myself have had
their judgments overturned as a result of appealing to the ECHR.
It could take up to 3 years before the ECHR considers my case.
So, my current situation is that I have a bankruptcy hearing on 8th May 2026 which will decide whether
or not to delay bankruptcy proceedings until after my ECHR appeal is heard, OR make me bankrupt on
or shortly after 8th May.
If bankruptcy proceeds, it means my assets will no longer be safe, including my home, where I live
with my 10 year old son, Lewis. In order to mitigate any consequences for my son losing his family
home, Andrew Johnson and others have set up a trust fund for Lewis, called a home for Lewis.
A Home For Lewis Trust
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 29/8/2025
People have been asking for an update on the situation and asking when the hearing to hear my application to set aside the bankruptcy will be heard.
Unfortunately, the online hearing which occured on 18th August 2025, which we were led to believe in emails AND letters was a " directions hearing ", turned out to be the full hearing!
As such we had not submitted any evidence to the court. At the hearing the judge ruled against me, and ordered that ...
1. The Application to set aside the Statutory Demand is dismissed.
2. The Bankruptcy Petition may be issued forthwith.
There will probably be a bankruptcy hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Law Courts, and I will provide an update if and when I get notice of it.
In response to the situation that my son Lewis (age 10) is now in - who is facing losing his family home due to the on going legal action, Andrew Johnson is in the process of setting up a trust which is taking contributions to help Lewis.
Details of the Trust can be found from this link.
A Home For Lewis Trust
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 15/8/2025
Please note : The directions hearing which is scheduled for 18th August 2025 at Merthyr Law Courts, will be held ONLINE therefore public attendance will not be possible.
I will update further when I get the date for the actual hearing.
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 12/8/2025
On 27th May 2025 I received notice from the Court of Appeal, that my appeal had been refused by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith. This means that I cannot appeal to the Supreme Court which in turn means
I have exhausted all domestic remedies to get justice.
Having exhausted all domestic remedies, I have the right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg whose role is to ensure that states are upholding human rights standards,
and it does so by reviewing decisions of domestic courts in cases where a human right has allegedly been violated.
In my case, I believe the judgment was a clear violation of ECHR article 10, the right to freedom of expression and of article 6, the right to a fair trial.
From 27th May 2025, I have 4 months in which to submit an application to the ECHR, and on 1st July 2025 I instructed my legal team to produce an appropriate written application for consideration by the ECHR.
The application is nearly completed.
The cost of the preparation of the application has been paid up front, and this was afforded by using the kind donations that are still continuing to come in from members of the public.
In the mean time, on 16th July 2025, the claimant’s solicitors served a statutory demand, which seeks a court hearing to make me bankrupt, which could then result in the selling of my home and removal of assets.
A directions court hearing is to be heard at Merthyr Tydfil Law Courts on Monday 18th August 2025, NOTE : This hearing may be done online therefore public attendance may not be possible . After this court hearing
I expect there will be another court hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Law Courts to determine whether or not bankruptcy proceedings will be allowed to go ahead.
I will be arguing that the case being presented to the ECHR has at least a realistic chance of success, and therefore that all bankruptcy proceedings should be set aside until the case has been heard by the ECHR.
Thank you for the kind donations so far, the legal fund just about paid for the cost of preparing the ECHR appeal, but further funds would assist in paying for representation by my barrister at the up coming bankruptcy hearings.
If anyone wishes to support me at the Court Hearing in Merthyr, once a date has been set, I would be grateful for that too.
TO DONATE CLICK HERE
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 9/5/2025
The appeal process (against the November 2024 judgment) has been significantly delayed, due to the non availability of the post trial hearing transcript.
The post trial hearing transcript was essential to include in the appeal bundle, therefore I could not submit the appeal until the transcript was authorised for release and transcription carried out.
Having applied for the post trial hearing transcript on 25th November 2024, and followed up by repeated reminders to supply
the transcript, I received the transcript on 21st March 2025.
The appeal was then submitted on 23rd March 2025.
The case was referred to a judge on 2nd May 2025.
I am now waiting to hear from the Court of Appeal.
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 15/1/2025
An appeal against the October 22nd Judgment was submitted to the Appeal Court in December 2024. A new video discusses some of the developements.
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 25/11/2024
POST RULING STATEMENT
 |
" There are few citizens, if any, who have researched and investigated the Manchester Arena incident more than I have. In my years of investigation I did not find any evidence to show
that a real bomb was used. But I did find video and photographic evidence which shows, beyond doubt, that there was no bomb. This court has refused consistently and repeatedly to examine fully any primary
evidence from the Manchester incident, which I put forward in my defence. It has also refused my applications to obtain further evidence, which we know exists, and would be easy for a court to obtain.
I contend, therefore, that this was not a fair trial. I would also like to thank my barrister Mr Paul Oakley, who is a brilliant barrister. Thankyou." |
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 25/11/2024
Richard D. Hall, High Court Case Donations & Costs (as of 23/11/2024)
| DONATIONS RECEIVED | £130,236.78 | ||
| COSTS | |||
| Legal Fees | |||
| 15/05/2023 | Advice & Drafting Defence | Barrister 1 | £7,500 |
| 31/05/2023 | Advice in conference | Barrister 1 | £1,250 |
| 01/06/2023 | Lagal Advice | Solicitor 1 | £270 |
| 05/06/2023 | Additional Drafting Defence | Barrister 1 | £6,250 |
| 17/07/2023 | Advice & Drafting Application for medical records | Barrister 1 | £15,000 |
| 28/11/2023 | Case Management Hearing | Barrister 1 | £2,500 |
| 27/12/2023 | Legal Advice on new publication | Barrister 1 | £2,500 |
| 02/01/2024 | Legal Services & Drafting Witness Statement | Barrister 1 | £12,500 |
| 31/01/2024 | Preparation for Summary Judgment Hearing | Solicitor 1 (McKenzie Friend at Hearing) | £725 |
| 27/03/2024 | Costs for losing summary judgment | Hudgell Solicitors | £25,200 |
| 18/06/2024 | Read case papers, draft argument for appeal against summary judgment | Barrister 2 | £2,400 |
| 20/06/2024 | Summary Judgment Appeal Hearing | Barrister 2 | £1,200 |
| 27/06/2024 | Work on trial witness statement | Barrister 2 | £840 |
| 28/06/2024 | Legal Advice | Barrister 2 | £420 |
| 01/07/2024 | Pre Trial Review Hearing | Barrister 2 | £3,000 |
| 09/07/2024 | Trial preparation and representation | Barrister 2 | £21,000 |
| 09/08/2024 | Legal Advice given earlier in year | Solicitor 2 | £1,065 |
| 05/11/2024 | Post Trial Hearing | Barrister 2 | £6,600 |
| 19/11/2024 | Prepare Appeal to Apeal Court against trial judgment & injunction | Barrister 2 | £6,600 |
| Court Fees | |||
| 27/02.2024 | Court Fee | The High Court | £259 |
| 28/02/2024 | Court Fee | The High Court | £275 |
| 04/03/2024 | Court Fee | The High Court | £275 |
| 18/03/2024 | Court Fee | The High Court | £259 |
| 03/04/2024 | Court Fee | The High Court | £569 |
| 10/04/2024 | Court Fee | The High Court | £569 |
| 11/04/2024 | Court Fee | The High Court | £259 |
| Transcription Fees | |||
| 06/03/2024 | Summary Judgment Hearing | The Transcription Agency | £568 |
| 15/05/2024 | Case Management Hearing | The Transcription Agency | £268 |
| 06/08/2024 | Trial Transcript | The Transcription Agency | £3,766 |
| Research / Investigation Fees | Various | £1,797 | |
| Printing & Postage Costs | Various | £274 | |
| Travel (trains / taxis / parking ) etc | Various | £1,561 | |
| Accommodation & Food | Various | £2,031 | |
| Note : travel included 6 overnight vists to London and a 4 day trial in London | |||
| TOTAL COSTS | £129,549.56 |
CURRENT SITUATION - Updated 10/11/2024