Victims of Manchester Arena bombing receive £45,000 from person who claimed it was a hoax.

Richard Hall, a self-proclaimed journalist, has been ordered to pay £45,000 in damages to Martin Hibbert and his daughter Eve, survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. The controversial conspiracy theorist had targeted the pair with outrageous claims that they were "crisis actors" involved in a government-led hoax.

Martin and Eve were attending an Ariana Grande concert when the bomb, detonated by Salman Abedi, went off just five meters away from them. Martin, who heroically shielded his daughter from most of the blast, was hit with 22 pieces of shrapnel, one of which permanently severed his spinal cord. Meanwhile, Eve was struck in the head with a bolt which caused severe brain damage.

Hall's actions went beyond mere theories and accusations, as he secretly filmed Eve and her mother at their home, and even filmed Eve outside her own house. He then proceeded to publish widely viewed videos and a book, as well as give lectures, all promoting his belief that the bombing never happened.

Although his focus was not solely on the Hibberts, Hall went as far as to claim that they had lied to the public for financial gain and were part of a large-scale fraud against the British people. He even went as far as to falsely claim that Eve was disabled before the bombing and that Martin was faking his injuries, which have left him reliant on a wheelchair for mobility.

Hall's barrister argued that his client's actions were not motivated by malice or vindictiveness, and that £7,500 in damages for each of the Hibberts would be appropriate. However, the Hibberts' barrister argued that Hall's behavior was "oppressive" and "harassing."

Last month, Mrs. Justice Steyn ruled in favor of the Hibberts, calling Hall's behavior a "reckless abuse of media freedom." And on Friday, at the hearing for damages, the judge awarded Martin and Eve £22,500 each.

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