Innuendo Can be True or False

The previous article outlined what defamation is. This article will look closely at the types of innuendo.

Innuendo can include an implied attack on a person's reputation. In any situation an objective test applies which is what view would a reasonable person take of the statement. Nevertheless, there are two types of innuendos: true (legal) and false (popular).

In a true innuendo statement is innocent on face of it but an ordinary and reasonable person who had a special knowledge would upon hearing/reading that statement think less well of the claimant.

The claimant in such cases must show that special facts and circumstances are known by some of the people to whom it is has been published. The court has to be informed in the statement of  a case about special meanings and facts.

Such necessity was also present in Cassidy v Daily Mirror Newspaper Ltd (1929) where it was held that there is nothing wrong in announcing that two people are engaged. But, it was defamatory because Mr Cassidy was married.

On the other hand, false innuendo is what a reasonable person guided by general knowledge would infer from natural and ordinary meaning of the words as held in Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd 1964 Therefore, the court does not have to be informed of any case facts.





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