Defamation

[QuizmasterG]

I have recently retired as treasurer from my local club after putting in many years of work albeit not terribly onerous or difficult. Since leaving, a member of the club whom I never saw eye to eye with, is now saying snide comments and hints that somehow money has gone missing, but without naming any actual examples or instances of misappropriations.
Where do I stand legally on the subject of defamation or slander in this regard?

[Mamyalynne]

Some FAQs asked and answered here

https://www.carter-ruck.com/media-law-defamation-libel-and-privacy-lawyers/libel-and-slander-faq

[Rosie29]

First he needs to substantiate these remarks. Tell him you've heard of his comments and ask him to meet you to talk about them. Take one or two club members along as witnesses. Choose a neutral venue e.g. the pub.

[Peter Pedant]

nil
dont go there

all sorts of reasons, since it wont be true, then who told you ? and what were the words used ( we dont know and will never know)

so there is trouble making by more than once party
this is NOT a basis to start proceedings for slander.

You used to be required to show special damage to succeed in slander but someone has told me that is now old law - I am not sure. The fees are very high - any silly old court case costs £10 000 oer day

I hope I have written enough to make you BANISH the word 'slander' from your vocabulary

so what to do - ? well write to the club Prez, but say what ?
it has to be 'I have been told that....'
you could say that these things are important to you ( imputation of dishoensty) and your only demand is that the details are particularised and then acted upon...

if you are still in the club = you could beard your accuser but you have to start off with - - have you been saying I am dishonest? and then demand the instances

[QuizmasterG]

Thank you all, I will ponder on it for a while.
I think I am fortunate with people who know me who probably wouldn't believe any of it anyway.
unfortunately, rumours have a habit of snowballing.

[woofgang]

I can speak personally on this one and PP is right on the money. Legally you don't stand a chance. Personally and from experience, I would let it go. The place I live is a total hotbed of gossip. There are only about 3 big employers around here and most of the retired stay locally. Ignore the gossip and nastiness and the cats will soon turn to other prey. Its blooming annoying though.

[Peter Pedant]

// unfortunately, rumours have a habit of snowballing.//
where I live they have a habit of dying a death with in a day or so as we find something else to discuss ( Prince Harry or - - - Meghan or Prince Harry or his brother or Prince Harry or.....)

clearly you arent in the mood to say your accuser is
of course I did and I made sure you paid the most towards my first class tour of Spain last year ....

[I was accused of converting a cheque given to me by my accuser
("these allegations are being taken very seriously -they want answers!"). The cheque was found at the bottom of my accusers safe where she had put it for safekeeping and er never given it to me. there were no further ru,ours or snowballing - altho I tried my damnedest to start a few - ter daah!)
I still dont know why I asked her to search her safe in front of me sort of four weeks later. She was unrepentant (busy) and declined my offer to write to admin and tell them WXACTLY what had happened.

[Peter Pedant]

come on share with us woofie:
I'll start:
I was watching my favourite episode of my little pony when all of a sudden all my clothes fell off ! - -

[EDDIE51]

Don't do anything ! Such remarks have NO legal standing. They are no more than malicious gossip! People will soon forget the rubbish this ideot is spouting. I assume that the club accounts were audited ? The audit would have shown if there were any 'irregularities' !
In fact 'doing anything' would only 'Fuel the fire' suggesting that you actually had something to hide !

[woofgang]

Nothing so interesting PP. It was a rather unpleasant man who came to our front door on a sunday morning yelling that my husband had been helping himself to funds from a local community group. It was quite a few years ago now and hubs was employed in a very senior role in a local company who was a by-word for dealing harshly with employees suspected of any kind of dishonesty..it was one of the hotbed of gossip ones and he was a bit concerned so he took some legal advice....he had all kind of advice services as part of his employment package. He was told pretty much what you said but felt that he had the added advantage that if the hem hem "confidential service" let anything slip to management, they would know that he was aware of the gossip and ready to fight for his good name. In the event, as you said, it came to nothing....sorry to disappoint, I should have made something interesting up!