The "Wagatha Christie" Coleen Rooney/ Rebekah Vardy court case

[Iwantacatnotcovid]

Is anyone else following it?

Vardy's phone was accidentally dropped into the North Sea... Yeah right!

[WheresTheJustice2]

Thank you @prh47bridge

So, Rooney’s claim that she narrowed down who could view her personal insta to just Vardy’s account is being held to question?

[prh47bridge]

In essence, yes, although it is possible Vardy could try to argue that the leaks came from someone who had hacked her account. That is what she hinted at and others claimed on her behalf when Rooney accused her.

[WheresTheJustice2]

Well, frankly, if the judge rules in Vardy’s favour they shouldn’t be a judge! A child can see through Vardy’s lies.

[Doubleraspberry]

But Vardy brought the case: that’s what continues to puzzle me. She seems a thoroughly unpleasant woman but a very rich one with access to sound legal advice. Unless her case is much stronger than we’re seeing, surely no one would have advised her that this was worth doing?

Might it be that she was too stupid to think her texts might be called into the case and her lawyers didn’t know they existed? Anyone (@prh47bridge possibly an unfair question!) know whether her solicitors have a decent reputation?

[prh47bridge]

Vardy is using Kingsley Napley. They are a leading international law firm so yes, they have a decent reputation. Rooney is using Brabners, one of the leading firms in the North West. Vardy's barristers are Hugh Tomlinson QC, one of the founding members of Matrix Chambers, and Sara Mansoori, also from Matrix. Rooney's barristers are David Sherborne, who recently represented Meghan Markle and Johnny Depp, and Ben Hamer, a junior barrister in Sherborne's chambers. It is fair to say that both sides are employing lawyers with a good reputation. However, we don't know what advice the lawyers are giving their clients. If, say, Vardy's lawyers are telling her she should withdraw, she is entitled to ignore that advice and they must carry on representing her unless she admits to them that she was responsible for the leaks.

[Doubleraspberry]

Thanks, @prh47bridge. I know one of those barristers!

I was thinking more about pre-action advice on the likelihood of success. I wonder how she represented herself. I know if a client is willing to pay, and wants to proceed, then you do. But for something so potentially damaging to her reputation, it’s hard to imagine any firm advising her to go ahead n the merits of the case.

[prh47bridge]

The other thing to say is that most civil cases end in a settlement before the trial. The court process sets the parameters for the negotiation. That may be what is happening here - both sides are testing out the strength of the other side to determine their negotiating position. RIght now, despite the fact she has lost on some points, I would say Rooney is in a strong position. It may go to court, but I wouldn't be surprised if a settlement is announced before it gets there. If there is no settlement, it may be the weakness of Vardy's position that prevents one as, based on the evidence released, Rooney may want to insist on total capitulation from Vardy rather than accepting some kind of face-saving compromise.

[prh47bridge]

@Doubleraspberry

Thanks, *@prh47bridge*. I know one of those barristers!

I was thinking more about pre-action advice on the likelihood of success. I wonder how she represented herself. I know if a client is willing to pay, and wants to proceed, then you do. But for something so potentially damaging to her reputation, it’s hard to imagine any firm advising her to go ahead n the merits of the case.

My personal view is that, in most cases, anyone thinking of taking legal action for defamation should walk away. Even if they win, it often results in far greater damage to their reputation than the original libel.

[AnnieSnap]

I have been aware of the case, but I’ve not followed it. The updates here and legal opinions are really interesting. Several posters have pretty much said that both women a vacuous. I know lots of Wags are viewed that way and no doubt it’s sometimes/often justified. I watched the new documentary on Wayne and Coleen (on Prime Video) last week and I found Coleen seemed a decent, caring and sensible woman. Both her and Wayne come from a pretty rough, impoverished area of Liverpool and they’ve been a couple since their school days. So unlike some of her cohort, she wasn’t attracted to him because he was a professional footballer. He had ‘too much’ fame, adulation and money from being a 17-year-old. It went to his head and he put her through the mill for several years when he developed a dependence on alcohol and played around with lots of female followers. They each discussed that in the documentary, both separately and together. She seemed a strong woman, with clear boundaries. She stated that the things he did were never acceptable, but that she has chosen to forgive him. He has given-up drinking and they are moving forward as a family with their four boys. I surprised myself in that I liked them both.

[WheresTheJustice2]

I too like Coleen and sympathise with why it is so difficult for her to leave Wayne.

That said, I do find it sad that she has essentially accepted that Wayne is going to cheat from time to time.

[AnnieSnap]

@WheresTheJustice2

I too like Coleen and sympathise with why it is so difficult for her to leave Wayne.

That said, I do find it sad that she has essentially accepted that Wayne is going to cheat from time to time.

They both said it all happened when he was drinking. He hasn’t had a drink now for several years. So I think they are going forward with the relationship on the basis that it’s in the past.

[WheresTheJustice2]

I hope you’re right @AnnieSnap

Given that his last “episode” was last summer, it seems premature to believe that a pattern of behaviour from Wayne that started from his teenage years has changed for good.

[AnnieSnap]

@WheresTheJustice2 I didn’t realise it had been so recent. That’s very sad 😔

[Parsley1234]

What is sad is that she has been made to look foolish time and time again him having sex with hookers him getting caught with women him getting lairyvwith noise without booze it’s a bloody joke how Colleen can blame the booze it isn’t the booze he’s an entitled uneducated albeit talented man that’s it nothing more nothing less her blaming his friends the booze etc is absolving him of responsibility and jeez the two of these women spending money on their reputation it’s laughable

[SoonbeSpringtime]

My personal view is that, in most cases, anyone thinking of taking legal action for defamation should walk away. Even if they win, it often results in far greater damage to their reputation than the original libel

Thanks @prh47bridge and everyone for all the contributions. I'm going to reread the most recent posts to make sure I've taken it all in properly.

CR's involvement and relationship with her husband is a mystery to a lot of us, but it's her choice and she seems a decent and reasoned woman from what I've seen of her. I haven't seen the latest documentary but I did see a bit of one quite a while back. I'd imagine what she says in public and what she says to him behind closed doors are very different.

Conversely, and this is purely a personal opinion, based on what I've seen of RV in the media and on bits of a reality show, I was absolutely unsurprised at the whole 'Wagatha' revelation. So from a member of the public's point of view, I didn't feel what CR wrote defamed RV or diminished the impression of her that I already held. In her shoes I think I'd have offered a grovelling apology saying it wasn't me, but that I would be investigating how the account may have been used by others, or something, after taking advice of course.

[AntAndDecking]

two of these women spending money on their reputation it’s laughable

I don’t think Coleen has a choice, RV has brought the case so she has to defend it, I don’t think she can just ignore it. I think people often misunderstand these cases, I remember with the Johnny Depp libel trial people thought Amber Heard was pursuing him and he would be found guilty/not guilty.

[Bringonsummer19]

Both RV and her agent Caroline watt are guilty. I do wonder if Caroline sold more stories not directed by RV but in order to make money. RV for sure knew about some but maybe not all. Looks like caroline watt was very close to Sun journalists. I imagine that RV is now mounting a defence that it was her agent and not her.

[SoonbeSpringtime]

There's still the side question of leaking stories in return for favourable press, or the opposite, of having stories quashed and also the identity of The Sun's 'Secret Wag'

[Watapalava]

Ignoring the case itself, I’m actually shocked how bad they’ve both shown themselves to be

Total chavs with no class. They are like something off shameless

I’m so shocked Colleen went this far - even if Vardy did it have some decorum girl.

All the publicity is so embarrassing

[WheresTheJustice2]

I’m so shocked Colleen went this far - even if Vardy did it have some decorum girl.

Coleen doesn’t really have much choice in the matter.

[Watapalava]

I don’t know the answers but it shows her in such a bad light

She’s lived up to the whole no class reputation many gave her

[DrSbaitso]

@Watapalava

I don’t know the answers but it shows her in such a bad light

She’s lived up to the whole no class reputation many gave her

What has Rooney done that shows no class? What should she do in response to being sued?

[Watapalava]

Airing her problems in public for starters

Calling her names

Who cares if someone sells stories on her - don’t tell her anything then!

Just making a big deal about nothing generally

She’s a bit rough anyway and this just makes her seem worse! I’m only down road from Liverpool and all my family are from there - it’s just showing the typical stereotype of area when she could have shown in good light

[DrSbaitso]

When someone's selling your stories to the Sun, your problems are already public.

She's being sued. What's she supposed to do, ignore it and lose by default?

[Watapalava]

She was selling stuff she’d told her

Stop telling her would be normal reaction

Who reads the sun anyway! No one bloody cared and now it’s in news everyday

She’s being sued because Colleen accused her public ally all over social media and Vardy protested

Anyone else would have had it out with her face to face and then just ghosted them

She can only sell on what Colleen tells her

Colleen acted like a child posting it as full on accusation and it’s bit her on the arse now vardy is fighting back