A newspaper editor has launched a High Court libel claim against Neyland Town Council, alleging its clerk posted offensive and damaging comments about him on Facebook.
Tom Sinclair, editor of The Pembrokeshire Herald, previously reported on personality clashes between the council clerk, Libby Matthews, and some councillors. He says he has faced a ‘vilification campaign’ since the stories were published.
In a pre-action letter sent to the council on 7th December 2025, he said: ‘On 8th October 2025, you published on your official Facebook page a statement accusing me and The Pembrokeshire Herald of: ‘targeted…bullying articles’ ‘relentless, belligerent and targeted reporting’, causing distress deliberately. The statement was presented as fact, not opinion, without evidence and without offering any right of reply.
‘The clear defamatory meaning is that I am a malicious, unethical and bullying journalist who abuses press freedom to harass a public official.
‘This meaning is false and gravely damaging to my professional reputation. Serious harm is clearly established: the post has been viewed, commented on and shared thousands of times in a small community. A comment labelling me a ‘nonce’ remained visible beneath your statement for eight weeks.
‘On 6th December 2025, your Clerk posted publicly: ‘Hey guess what, Tom… FUCK YOU too – saddest man alive!’
‘This is a vindictive personal attack by your Proper Officer in her public capacity. The reputational damage and distress caused are substantial and ongoing.’
Speaking to Nation.Cymru, Sinclair said the council requested an additional 28 days to respond to the Pre-Action Protocol letter when they first received it, but failed to provide any reply.
‘In total, they have now had close to two months to engage, which is well beyond the 14-day period,’ Sinclair said.
‘In the absence of any meaningful reply, I have had little option but to proceed with issuing a claim in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court (Media and Communications List). The claim has now been filed.’
The claim alleges the council’s posts falsely accused Sinclair of ‘bullying and harassment’ and acting unethically as a journalist. It also states that graffiti repeating the allegations appeared locally and that the accusations were overheard in public, spreading the claims beyond social media.
As a result, Sinclair is seeking damages, an apology, removal of the posts, and legal costs. Currently, the council have not spoken out on the issue.
Image: Brett Jordan/UnSplash
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