Jno
That swearing took place was never contested. When Mitchell met representatives of the Police Federation, he told them (on the transcript)...
// "I will not as a supporter of the police for twenty six years be put in a position of suggesting an officer is not telling the truth but equally I did not say and I give you my word, I give you my word, I did not call an officer an f'ing pleb I did not say you are an f'ing moron and I did not say you should know your f'ing place.
"I would never speak to anyone like that least of all a police officer and you have my word I never said those things."
He goes on: "I don't want to impugn, it is quite possible that there was a mishearing or something. The incident was very brief. I complied with the officer and I picked up my bicycle.
"But I did say, under my breath but audibly, in frustration, I thought you lot were supposed to f***ing help us and it is for that I apologise, and I am grateful to that officer for accepting my apology. //
Mitchell qualifies his reply by suggesting the officer may have misheard and then relates what heclaims to have said. I don't think a libel action will get very far.