By David Young, PA
Celebrity doctor Christian Jessen is to be offered a “last chance saloon” opportunity to prove his credibility in a defamation case taken by Northern Ireland’s First Minister, a judge has said.
Arlene Foster is suing Dr Jessen over a tweet he posted in December 2019 making an unfounded claim that she was having an extra marital affair.
A key issue in the case is the TV doctor’s repeated failure to engage in the legal process and respond to papers served on him by Ms Foster’s representatives.
The doctor, best known for appearing in the Channel 4 show Embarrassing Bodies, belatedly engaged with the legal proceedings last week, after Ms Foster had already given evidence to the court.
He claimed he had been previously unaware the case at Belfast High Court was happening.
During three hours in the witness box last Friday, the doctor was pressed repeatedly on his claims that he had not received certain legal papers.
Offering an explanation, the doctor said he was suffering from mental health problems at the outset of 2020 and had stopped working and moved home to his parents.
Ahead of ruling on the wider defamation claim, judge Mr Justice McAlinden told a review hearing on Tuesday morning that he was to make a determination on whether Dr Jessen was being truthful in contending that he did not receive the papers.
The judge agreed to a request from the medic’s counsel Gavin Millar QC to receive submissions as to his client’s credibility.
“This is an important aspect of the case, this is the last chance saloon for Dr Jessen,” said Justice McAlinden.
“If it’s a case where he loses his opportunity to belatedly defend this action on the credibility point then I think it’s important that all opportunities are given to him and his representatives to make points in his favour.”
The judge added: “Dr Jessen’s representatives wish to make submissions and I’m certainly not going to deprive them of that opportunity in respect of that important issue.”
Dr Jessen’s lawyers have been given until May 4th to lodge written submissions on the credibility issue, with Ms Foster’s representatives given until May 10th to respond to those.
A hearing has been scheduled for May 14th for the two sides to make oral submissions on the matter.
At Tuesday’s short review hearing, both legal parties indicated that they did not intend to call any further evidence or witnesses in the case.
Mr Millar also said he would not be seeking to cross examine any evidence already presented to the court by Ms Foster’s legal team prior to Dr Jessen engaging in the case.
