The High Court has ordered the Express newspaper to pay damages and costs to Energy Minister Stuart Young over an article it published in 2017.

The ruling was handed down on Monday.

The Express had published a two-page advertisement headed, “24 Scandals in 24 months” which included Minister Young’s photograph and an allegation that he breached his authority as a Government Minister.

The ruling found that the newspaper knew that the words in the paid advertisement related to the Minister were false prior to its publication of the advertisement and therefore found that “malice” was proven on the part of the Express.

“This victory against the Express newspaper should be a reminder that it is not ok to print and publish lies, falsehoods and fake information about people and that when anyone does so there will be consequences,” Minister Young said in response to the court’s ruling.