Gazza's ex in libel damages win

The former wife of Paul Gascoigne has accepted undisclosed libel damages over a claim her financial demands caused his relapse into alcoholism.

For those who don’t know Paul Gascoigne or “Gazza”, it is a retired English professional footballer. Believed to be one of the greatest of his generation and he was a gifted midfielder in the nineties. Gazza, who won 57 caps for England, became a millionaire overnight when he was transferred from Newcastle to Spurs in 1988.

But Gascoigne was involved in many off-field incidents, and is believed never to have fulfilled his potential as a player. Since his career finished in 2004, he has suffered from alcoholism, mental illness and personal legal problems. Unfortunately …

Sheryl Gascoigne went to London's High Court over "sensational and highly offensive" claims in the Daily Star. Her legal team said the June articles suggested she demanded extra maintenance payments as the ex-England star was in a drug rehabilitation unit.

The newspaper suggested the 43-year-old ex wife had already been paid £17.5m by the former Newcastle and England footballer as part of her divorce settlement. They then suggested that notwithstanding such alleged payments, Ms Gascoigne had made a callous and wholly unjustified demand for a further £100,000 and for increased maintenance payments, while Mr Gascoigne was fighting for his life in a drug rehabilitation unit.

The articles also suggested that Ms Gascoigne's demands had driven Mr Gascoigne to the brink and caused his then recent relapse into alcoholism.

Express Newspapers apologised and admitted the allegations were untrue. They apologised publicly and unreservedly for the distress and embarrassment caused and had agreed to pay Ms Gascoigne damages and her legal costs.

So think twice when you read the newspapers. Don’t always believe everything they write …