SLAPPER ACCUSATION DROPPED

Last updated : 13 April 2006 By Editor
The Sun and News of the World newspapers have agreed to pay Wayne Rooney £100,000 after they had falsely reported the striker slapped his fiancée Coleen McLoughlin during a row at a nightclub in Cheshire in April last year.

The Sun's apology today reads

In The Sun on 12 April 2005, we published a front page article under the headline "Crazed Rooney Thumps Coleen".

The article alleged that Wayne Rooney had slapped his fiancée across the face and that he had to be calmed down and restrained by team-mates.

We now accept that these allegations were false. We sincerely apologise for the embarrassment caused by the article. We have also agreed to pay substantial damages as a mark of regret and Mr Rooney's costs.

The News of the World is expected to make an apology on Sunday.