A COMMUNITY activist from Greenock has been ordered to pay bus tycoon Sandy Easdale £200,000 in damages plus court costs over statements he had made about him online.
Mr Easdale has won a defamation case against John Houston, the operator of a local community news website.
The McGill's co-owner brought the action against the Larkfield-based blogger after 'multiple defamatory and false claims' were made against him and his business interests.
Following a hearing at the Court of Session, which was uncontested by Mr Houston, the defender has been ordered to pay £100,000 in damages to Mr Easdale as well as another £100,000 in damages to Clyde Metal Recycling Ltd.
Mr Houston - who is set to stand as a candidate in May's council elections - was also told he was liable for legal costs arising from the case.
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