Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2001/01/15/hounded_head_of_titsup_com/

Hounded head of titsup.com ISP gets above his station

Don't shoot the messenger

By Kieren McCarthy

Posted in Legal, 15th January 2001 15:52 GMT

Since our story about lone crusader Mike Ashworth posting the contact details of Laurence Horgan, former head of titsup.com ISP IG Click - only to be threatened with the Human Rights Act - we have had some interesting correspondence.

Even though Mr Horgan seems to think that Mike is to blame for allowing disgruntled ex-customers to make their feelings felt on his home phone number, it would seem that legally Mr Horgan hasn't got a leg to stand on. The Human Rights Act cannot be used against individuals (only public or official bodies) and so the lawyer's letter sent to Mr Ashworth - forcing him to remove Mr Horgan home details - isn't worth the paper it's written on.

As Mike himself points out, if Mr Horgan has chosen not to go ex-directory, even though he's the director of a number of companies, then he is asking for trouble. It is also unreasonable to blame Mr Ashworth for other people's behaviour. If Mr Horgan is concerned about abusive phone calls, he should do what everyone would have to do - contact the relevant people within BT and let them deal with it.

Mr Ashworth told us today that he is talking to human rights group Liberty this evening regarding the legal complaint. It seems unlikely that it will insist Mr Ashworth remove the details or that hundreds of former IG Click customers will see their money. ®

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