The Legal Battle Over Manchester Arena Conspiracy Theories: Richard D. Hall vs. Hibbert Family.

In a high-profile case currently before the UK High Court, Richard D. Hall, a self-proclaimed investigative journalist, is defending himself against harassment claims brought by Martin Hibbert and his daughter, Eve. The legal action centres around Hall’s controversial book and documentary Manchester: The Night of the Bang, which allege that the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing was a staged event. The Hibbert family, victims of the attack, argue that Hall’s theories have not only defamed them but also caused significant emotional distress.

This article provides a detailed examination of the claims from both sides, outlining Hall’s defence and the case presented by the Hibberts. It also investigates the broader implications of the trial, touching on freedom of speech, privacy, and the boundaries of investigative journalism. 

The Manchester Arena Bombing: A Tragic Event.

The official narrative states the Manchester Arena bombing on May 22, 2017, killed 22 people and injured hundreds more during an Ariana Grande concert. One of the most devastating terrorist attacks in recent UK history, the bombing left long-lasting scars on victims and their families, including Martin Hibbert, who was paralyzed from the waist down, and his daughter Eve, who sustained severe brain injuries.

Despite these facts, conspiracy theories surrounding the event quickly emerged, suggesting the bombing was a hoax. Central to these theories is Richard D. Hall, a figure well-known for his investigative work into alleged cover-ups involving the state and other large institutions.

Richard D. Hall’s Investigative Claims.

Richard Hall, a former engineer turned independent journalist, has been producing investigative content since 2009. His work focuses on controversial events, often suggesting government involvement in fabricating or covering up incidents. Hall’s investigative foray into the Manchester Arena bombing culminated in his book Manchester: The Night of the Bang, released in 2020, which claims the bombing was staged, involving actors posing as victims, including Martin and Eve Hibbert.

In his witness statement, Hall outlines how his investigation began in 2019, two years after the attack. He claims to have reviewed evidence such as a video filmed shortly after the explosion, which he believes contradicts official reports. Hall’s analysis includes points like the lack of visible injuries in the footage, undamaged nearby objects, and the behaviour of alleged victims. He specifically points to Ruth Murrell, a survivor seen in the footage, walking unimpeded despite media reports that she had sustained a severe leg injury.

Hall also visited the homes of several witnesses, including Eve Hibbert’s mother, Sarah Gillbard, as part of his research. He recorded video footage of her street but maintains that his approach was polite and professional, denying any intent to harass or intimidate.

“I was simply attempting to gather information in the public interest,” Hall states in his defence, emphasising that his work is investigative journalism protected under the principles of free speech. He further highlights public scepticism about the Manchester bombing, citing a 2022 survey by King’s College London, which found that 26% of the UK population believed the government or mainstream media were involved in a cover-up related to the bombing.

Richard D Hall

The Hibberts’ Case: Harassment and Defamation.

For Martin and Eve Hibbert, Hall’s work crosses a line from investigation to harassment. Represented by Martin’s legal team, they argue that Hall’s publications have deeply affected their lives, not just by questioning the legitimacy of their injuries but by suggesting they were involved in a hoax. Martin’s testimony details the trauma he has endured—not only from the bombing itself but from being publicly accused of fabricating his and his daughter’s suffering.

The Hibberts argue that Hall’s conspiracy theories have caused further emotional distress, particularly as Hall’s book and film have been viewed widely, gaining traction in online communities known for promoting conspiracy theories. Hall’s decision to visit their home and record their street, they claim, only exacerbated their fear and sense of intrusion.

Their legal case is built on multiple pillars, including harassment, defamation, and misuse of personal data. They assert that Hall’s repeated public statements, media appearances, and the content of his publications amount to a systematic campaign to discredit them and undermine the truth of the Manchester bombing. They also highlight how Hall’s claims have led to their private lives being scrutinised in the public eye, particularly after his secretive filming of their street.

Martin Hibbert has been a public figure in the years following the bombing, using his platform to advocate for survivors of terror attacks and raise awareness about the importance of better emergency responses. Eve’s mother, Sarah, on the other hand, has sought to keep her daughter’s life as private as possible, avoiding media attention as Eve copes with the aftermath of her injuries. Hall’s actions, the Hibberts argue, have violated this privacy.

Freedom of Speech vs. Harassment.

The case touches on the broader issue of the limits of free speech and investigative journalism. Hall maintains that his work was carried out with journalistic integrity, adhering to the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) code of conduct. He argues that any opinions expressed in his publications were clearly labelled as such and not presented as fact. Furthermore, Hall contends that his use of public images of the Hibberts falls under "fair use," as the images were already publicly available through the media​.

However, the Hibberts claim that Hall’s actions went beyond free speech and entered the realm of harassment. They contend that Hall's publications and videos not only cast doubt on their integrity but also subjected them to intense public scrutiny, undermining their safety and well-being. In their view, Hall’s conspiracy theories were not rooted in genuine journalism but rather in reckless speculation, designed to provoke controversy and attract attention.

The Court's Challenge: A Complex Decision.

The court must now balance these competing interests, and deliver their verdict on 24 October 2024. On the one hand, Hall argues that his work is a matter of public interest, especially in light of public distrust of official narratives surrounding the bombing. On the other hand, the Hibberts seek justice for what they claim is an unfounded and harmful attack on their personal lives.

The legal decision will likely hinge on whether Hall’s investigative methods can be seen as reasonable under the circumstances, and whether his actions crossed the line into harassment. Moreover, the case will explore whether Hall’s theories, presented as opinions, can still cause harm to the claimants under UK law, particularly the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Conclusion: The Implications.

The case of Richard Hall versus the Hibberts raises important questions about the responsibilities of journalists and the limits of free speech in the age of conspiracy theories. It also highlights the lasting trauma experienced by survivors of terror attacks, who, in some cases, must contend not only with physical and psychological injuries but also with unfounded public accusations.

As the trial proceeds, it will serve as a critical test of the balance between the right to investigate and report, and the need to protect individuals from harassment and defamation. Regardless of the outcome, the case has already ignited a broader debate about where the line should be drawn when questioning official narratives and conducting public investigations.

Communication from Richard D Hall - RICHPLANET.NET - Trial Transcript.

Greetings,

Just to update you on the on-going situation with my recent trial at the
High Court in London.

I have obtained a full transcript of the trial which is available to read
or download from this link ...

https://cdn1.richplanet.net/pdf/Trial-Transcript.pdf

My own cross examination starts at page 298.

The witness statement I submitted to the trial can also be found here ...

https://cdn1.richplanet.net/pdf/Trial-Witness-Statement.pdf

I am interested to know from people who read the transcript any thoughts
they may have. Please send them to richard@richplanet.net.

I am expecting a judgment on the case on or around 24th October 2024. I
will let you know the outcome.

Thanks for your continued support and for the donations which have funded
my defence. Paul Oakley, my barrister did an excellent job. You can read
every word of what happened at the trial from the link above.

Further details can be found here ...

https://www.richplanet.net/legal.php

Further legal documents can be found here ...

https://www.richplanet.net/legaldocuments.php

My work on the Manchester Arena incident can be found here ...

https://www.richplanet.net/manchester.php

Richard

richard@richplanet.net

The Moral Rights and Obligations of Independent Writers and Thinkers: A Critical Examination.

Researched and Written by ChatGPT.

Richard D Hall - "The Stalker Man"

Introduction

In recent years, the proliferation of independent writers and thinkers, often labelled as conspiracy theorists by the establishment, has sparked significant debate. These individuals challenge the official narratives of various events, claiming that inconsistencies and omissions in the mainstream accounts necessitate further scrutiny. One notable case involves an Arena bombing survivor who has initiated a landmark action against a conspiracy theorist, Richard D Hall, as reported by ITV News on July 22, 2024. This article explores the moral rights and obligations of these independent voices in questioning the official narrative, especially when they believe, with certainty, that the established version does not hold up to rational scrutiny.

READ MORE - Manchester Arena bombing survivor begins landmark action against conspiracy theorist

The Role of Independent Writers and Thinkers

Independent writers and thinkers serve a crucial role in a democratic society. Their work often involves questioning established narratives and investigating potential discrepancies in official accounts. This function is vital for the following reasons:

1. Promoting Accountability: By challenging the official narrative, independent writers hold authorities accountable for their actions and decisions, ensuring transparency and integrity in governance.

2. Encouraging Critical Thinking: These individuals foster a culture of critical thinking by encouraging the public to question and analyse information rather than accepting it at face value.

3. Uncovering Truths: In some cases, independent investigations have uncovered truths that were initially overlooked or suppressed by mainstream sources.

The Ethical Considerations

While the role of independent thinkers is important, it comes with significant ethical responsibilities:

1. Accuracy and Integrity: Independent writers must strive for accuracy in their investigations. Disseminating false or misleading information can cause harm and undermine public trust.

2. Respect for Victims and Survivors: In cases involving tragedies, such as the Arena bombing, it is crucial to approach the topic with sensitivity and respect for those affected.

3. Avoiding Harm: The dissemination of conspiracy theories can lead to real-world harm, including harassment of individuals, disruption of investigations, and societal division.

The Case of the Arena Bombing Survivor

The case reported by ITV News involves a survivor of the Arena bombing taking legal action against Richard D Hall, now labelled “the Stalker man.” This case highlights the tension between the right to question the official narrative and the potential harm caused by unfounded theories. The survivor's decision to pursue legal action suggests that the dissemination of certain conspiracy theories can cause significant personal distress and impede the healing process for victims.

Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

The moral rights and obligations of independent writers and thinkers can be balanced through several measures:

1. Fact-Checking and Verification: Independent writers should rigorously fact-check their information and verify sources to ensure the accuracy of their claims.

2. Ethical Journalism Standards: Adhering to ethical journalism standards, including fairness, accountability, and minimising harm, is crucial for maintaining credibility and public trust.

3. Legal Accountability: In extreme cases where conspiracy theories cause demonstrable harm, legal accountability may be necessary to protect individuals and maintain social order.

Conclusion

Independent writers and thinkers play an essential role in challenging official narratives and promoting critical thinking. However, this role comes with significant ethical responsibilities. Striking a balance between the right to question and the obligation to avoid harm is essential for the credibility and integrity of independent investigations. The case of the Arena bombing survivor underscores the need for responsible and ethical conduct in the dissemination of information, highlighting the profound impact that words and theories can have on individuals and society as a whole.

READ MORE - Exploring Angela Power-Disney’s Claim About Jill and Joe Biden’s Marriage Date.

READ MORE - Reigniting the Maddie McCann Case: Could the McCanns Face Reinvestigation?

Matt's Music · Richard D Hall - The Stalker Man

Richard D Hall Faces Ruin & Disaster

The UK's Truth Movement's leading anchorman of Rich Planet TV Richard D Hall, faces financial ruin and public condemnation following a BBC Panorama programme labelling him a "Disaster Troll'.

With the mainstream going into overdrive, Richard D Hall is being built up as the UK's version of conspiracy theorist extraordinaire Alex Jones, who's recently been ordered to pay nearly a billion dollars in compensation to the parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting massacre in 2012.

'Disaster Deniers: Hunting the Trolls' 

Having made himself a reputation as a documentary maker and promoter of extreme conspiracy theories, Hall puts forward alternative narratives to such subjects as the murder of Jill Dando, Jo Cox, the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and the Didcot and Cumbria murders and shootings.

In a frenzy of media attention, Richard D Hall's new status as the nation's leading "Disaster Troll," has even led to his monthly market stall in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, being "withdrawn permanently" by the local council.

An email from Richard D Hall to his email subscribers read;

Greetings,
Just to let you know that the market stall in Merthyr Tydfil has been
withdrawn permanently. This was a decision made by Merthyr Council, and
they will be issuing a statement on it.
Therefore there will be no market stall on Friday.
Thanks,
Richard

Preparing to Bring Libel Action

Following in the footsteps and boldened by the success of the Sandy Hook parents, Manchester-based Martin Hibbert is set to be the first victim of a terror attack, (which Hall claims to be a false flag), to take civil legal action against him.

Paralysed from his waist down when he and his daughter Eve were caught up in the 2017 Manchester Arena blast, Martin Hibbert said "I'm all for freedom of speech, but it crosses the line when you're saying I'm an actor or I've not got a spinal cord injury or Eve's not disabled, she's not in a wheelchair."

Losing Public Opinion and Goodwill

A huge success with the public and making a healthy living from selling his books and DVDs, Hall regularly sold-out national talking tours, in which each venue was packed out with 100-500 people. 

Not only has his YouTube channel, which boasted an impressive 16 million views and 80,000 subscribers, been removed following an appeal by the BBC to YouTube, but he is also facing further public condemnation for putting a camera outside the home of Martin Hibbert and his daughter Eve, with the intent of filming her without injuries.

"I've sharpened the spike on the end so I can just stick that into the ground in order to surveil our subjects."

Revealed in his latest public update, and his response to the BBC Panorama exposure, he said he later decided to abandon that idea and just secretly filmed from the comfort of his own car, parked on the other side of the road.

Eve, who is now 20, was left severely disabled after the bombing, and experienced a serious brain injury, alongside losing the use of her left arm and leg.

Sourced from the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63412651

The UK terror survivors tracked down by ‘disaster trolls’

By Marianna Spring

BBC Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent

Conspiracy theorists, who claim UK terror attacks have been staged, are tracking down survivors to their homes and workplaces to see if they are lying about their injuries, a BBC investigation has found.

Martin Hibbert, who was paralysed from the waist down when he and his daughter Eve were caught in the 2017 Manchester Arena blast, told the BBC he is now preparing to bring libel action against a conspiracy theorist based in Wales.

Richard D Hall has described how he physically tracks down survivors of the attack - in which 22 people were killed and more than 100 injured - to determine whether it was faked. He says he spied on Eve from a vehicle parked outside her home.

In a video shared with his followers online, Mr Hall demonstrates setting up a camera to film Eve, now profoundly disabled and in a wheelchair, to see whether she can in fact walk.

"I'm all for freedom of speech," Martin Hibbert told me. "But it crosses the line when you're saying I'm an actor or I've not got a spinal cord injury or Eve's not disabled, she's not in a wheelchair.

"You don't know how far he's going to go to get answers."

Mr Hall suggests that those who were killed in the attack are really alive and living abroad. He also promotes theories that several other UK terror attacks were staged. A former engineer and website designer, he makes money from selling books and DVDs outlining his theories, as well as speaking at events and posting videos online. As recently as mid-October, he had more than 16 million views and 80,000 subscribers on YouTube.

When I confronted Mr Hall at a market stall he runs, he insisted I'm wrong about how he operates.

For the past five months I've been looking into conspiracy theorists who target UK terror survivors, for BBC Panorama and a Radio 4 podcast. My investigations and new research, along with the testimony of those affected, show that conspiracy theories and tactics like those deployed by Mr Hall are emblematic of a wider phenomenon that survivors and bereaved families are experiencing.

A victim of the 2017 Westminster Bridge terror attack, who has been harassed by online conspiracy trolls, told the BBC that surviving a terror attack now seems to inevitably lead to being abused.

These types of conspiracy theories, and the abuse they inspire, echo those of Alex Jones, the US host of the conspiracist show and website Infowars, who this month was ordered to pay nearly $1bn (£861,805,000) to families of the US Sandy Hook school shooting after falsely claiming the 2012 attack was a hoax.

Online abuse describing terror attacks as hoaxes, and those who were injured as so-called "crisis actors", appear to be on the rise since the pandemic, according to survivors who have spoken to the BBC.

Most of the abuse has been perpetrated online, but people I have spoken to say they fear for their safety because the abuse has also begun to affect their lives offline.

Nearly one in five people in the UK think terror survivors are not telling the truth about what happened to them, new research for the BBC suggests. A third say the pandemic has made them more suspicious of official explanations of UK terror attacks.

The survey of more than 4,000 people, weighted to be representative of the UK population and carried out earlier this month by King's College London, also suggests that 14% believe the 2017 Manchester Arena attack probably involved "crisis actors" who pretended to be injured.

Research from BBC Monitoring found that dozens of videos promoting false claims about the Manchester attack - accumulating more than 300,000 views - were still on YouTube five years after the incident. After the BBC flagged this to YouTube, the company removed Mr Hall's channel and one other that had promoted his content.

"Targeting the victims and families of these atrocious attacks is abhorrent," said a spokesperson for the company. "YouTube's hate speech policy outlines clear guidelines prohibiting content that denies, trivialises or minimises violent historical events, and we will remove flagged videos that violate these guidelines."

Martin Hibbert's lawyer, Neil Hudgell, who is preparing a libel case against Mr Hall, told the BBC: "Martin's got to the point of enough is enough. This needs tackling and to be silenced in legitimate ways."

Mr Hall's claims and tactics also include:

• Entering the workplace of Manchester Arena survivor Lisa Bridgett, posing as a customer, with the aim of secretly recording her to discover whether she's lying about her injuries
• Visiting the homes of other Manchester survivors to try to question them about whether the attack was a hoax
• Publicising the names and locations of dozens of Manchester survivors and bereaved relatives of victims in a video - appealing to his followers to send him any information they have about them

Martin Hibbert first became aware of Mr Hall's tactics when police alerted the family to allegations that he had put a camera outside the home of his daughter Eve. Mr Hall had shared a video of himself preparing a small camera strapped to a stake which he said he would use to check whether Eve really was hurt in the Manchester Arena bombing.

"I've sharpened the spike on the end so I can just stick that into the ground in order to surveil our subjects," he told his viewers, holding up a camera attached to a stick with fake foliage wrapped around it.

Eve, who is now 20, was left severely disabled after the bombing. She experienced a serious brain injury and has lost the use of her left arm and leg.

Mr Hall later said online that Eve left the house in a wheelchair, but added, "There's no evidence" that the injury was as a result of the attack.

He also documented his attempt to prove that Lisa Bridgett, who lost a finger in the bombing, was not injured either, by taking a hidden camera to the boatyard where she works.

Ms Bridgett told me: "It makes you feel very security conscious, because you just don't know who's out there and who might be lurking in a garden or standing round a corner with a hidden camera on."

Messages seen by the BBC show how online abuse, citing conspiracies that Mr Hall and others promote, have also been sent to the grieving relatives of those killed in the Manchester Arena bombing, as well as survivors of other UK terror attacks. There have been attempts by trolls online to identify where terror survivors live and work.

Mr Hall requests donations on his website and promotes an online shop where he sells branded merchandise. He also has a market stall where he sells his book and DVD about the Manchester Arena attack, along with other books and DVDs promoting conspiracy theories.

I visited the market stall to ask him questions after multiple attempts to get answers to survivors' questions.

He told me he didn't want to talk to me about the "evidence" he says he has to back up his claims, and that he doesn't trust the BBC. I asked how he feels to be profiting from the worst day of these survivors' lives.

"If you read my book, all the answers are in there," he said. When I told him there is no evidence in his book, he told me I'm wrong.

He refused to address questions about whether he really believes UK terror attacks were staged and if he understands the harm his conspiracy theories and tactics cause to the survivors of these attacks.

After my visit, I wrote to Mr Hall again but he didn't respond. Since then he has added a series of disclaimers on his website saying that he does not "advocate that viewers of this website make contact with alleged terror attack victims, either online or in person".

He has also posted a new video, in which he says he did not put a camera outside the home of Eve Hibbert, but admitted to leaving "a camera rolling" in his van which was "parked in a public place".

He says he has made "polite door to door inquiries in order to gather evidence, which is a perfectly legitimate activity when doing research", and that his appeal for information from the public does not make him "responsible for hateful messages sent by people".

But he held firm to his "opinion [that] there has been no satisfactory evidence presented to the public, which proves that the Manchester arena incident was not staged".

Subsequent to the publication of this article, Mr Hall removed several videos from his website. A comment added to his homepage said: "In response to recent media coverage, if any person is upset by what they have seen, Richard D Hall apologises for any upset caused."

To try to find out more about Mr Hall and what motivates the people who push these conspiracy theories, I spoke to an insider who used to appear in Mr Hall's videos. He has insight into how this conspiracy industry works.

Neil Sanders said he doesn't share Mr Hall's views on the Manchester Arena attack. He believes it is the fans who are shaping the trajectory of a conspiracy theorist like Mr Hall, who used to focus on theories about UFOs before starting to push claims about "fabricated terror". In fact, Mr Sanders said he is sure that when he and Mr Hall had discussed the conspiracy theories that took off after the Sandy Hook school shooting, Mr Hall had dismissed them as nonsense.

But he said the more Mr Hall has become embroiled in this world, the more he appears to have bought into these conspiracies. It is the more sensational theories which are the ones that "sell", Mr Sanders explained, adding that Mr Hall's talks in pubs and other venues up and down the UK in recent years have been packed.

Mr Sanders says he doesn't support conspiracy theories that UK terror attacks were staged.

The King's College research suggests that four in five people do recognise that serious terror attacks have occurred in the UK.

But, when asked specifically about the Manchester and 7/7 bombings, a significant minority - one in seven people surveyed - have doubts about whether those attacks even happened at all.

And more than one in 10 of those surveyed think the Manchester Arena attack was a hoax.

"This not only disengages people from society generally. For that small minority who get really caught up in conspiracies, it can actually affect their behaviour," explained Prof Bobby Duffy, who led the research. He feared that those who believe these theories are more likely to target survivors with abuse.

The research distinguishes between those who believe terror attacks, such as the Manchester Arena bombing, were a hoax, and those who aren't sure about the truth of these attacks.

Prof Duffy describes how anxiety, uncertainty and social media habits can all tip someone from simply questioning events, to arriving at more extreme beliefs.

Of the 14% of those surveyed who believe "crisis actors" were involved in the Manchester Arena attack, just under half say the messaging app Telegram is a key source of information on news and events for them. They were also more likely to be under 24 years old and not to have voted in the last election.

The research suggests that the pandemic has created a "gateway" for these conspiracies, with a third of people surveyed saying it has made them more suspicious of official explanations of terror attacks. Prof Duffy said he expects the current economic climate to exacerbate this tendency.

One of those who admits to engaging with such online conspiracy theories is Alicia, who said she lost faith in the government during the pandemic. She said she struggled during lockdown and now she's struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Social media is the main place she turns to for updates and information.

The mental health worker had said online that she was looking forward to visiting his stall.

"People don't feel safe any more because they've got nobody to look to who tells us the truth. That's quite scary, actually."

She told me that she doesn't want it to be true that the Manchester Arena bombing was a hoax, but it really frightens her that it could be - and she's not sure what's true any more.

When I told her how I've interviewed survivors who were injured in the attacks, and how they have been deeply hurt by Mr Hall's false claims, she appears genuinely shocked.

Alicia says she has never sent out online abuse based on these kinds of conspiracy theories. But there are plenty who have.

Travis Frain was trolled by online conspiracists after he was filmed just after being hit by a car during the 2017 Westminster Bridge terror attack. Mobile phone footage of him standing on the bridge after breaking his leg - adrenaline delaying the pain - inspired a wave of online abuse.

He received the first message about the attack in hospital the next day.

"We know the attack was staged. I hope they hang you," it read.

In the months after the attack, Mr Frain flagged videos and posts to social media sites using their reporting tools, but he said nothing happened until his lawyer wrote to them.

YouTube did then take down various videos which promoted the theory that he was a "crisis actor", but he said he has had only varying degrees of success with other major social media sites.

Mr Frain reported the abuse to the Metropolitan Police. No-one has been charged.

He said he felt "powerless" because people don't realise how viciously and frequently terror survivors are trolled online.

It's for that reason these survivors have decided to speak up - and that some are looking to the courts to hold the conspiracy world to account.

Baram Blackett, Alan Wilson & Richard D Hall

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