A union leader has agreed to pay “substantial damages” to a firefighter from Norfolk over tweets he claims falsely portrayed him as “a misogynist, a pervert and a liar”.

Paul Embery launched a libel claim against Dr Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), over her response to him highlighting the anti-social behaviour of a group of train passengers on Twitter.

At a hearing at the High Court in London on Tuesday, Judge Jaron Lewis was told that Mr Embery was “prepared to let the matter rest” after Dr Grady agreed to pay damages, legal costs and not to repeat her allegations.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Embery claimed he would receive just under £10,000 in damages, with Dr Grady having to pay over £12,000 in costs.

Norwich Evening News: Firefighter Paul Embery is also an outspoken political activistFirefighter Paul Embery is also an outspoken political activist (Image: Labour Leave)

The outspoken left-leaning political activist, who was an official with the Fire Brigades Union before being controversially removed, is employed by London Fire Brigade but has lived in south Norfolk since 2008.

Earlier this month he saw a Norwich employment tribunal ruling that he had been unfairly dismissed from his role with the FBU overturned on appeal.

Tom Double, representing Mr Embery, told the court that he had been travelling with his children from London to Norwich last August when “a group of women sitting directly behind them were consuming alcohol and behaving in a loud and obnoxious manner”.

“One woman in particular was repeatedly using sexually explicit profanities. Mr Embery considered it unacceptable that passengers, including his own children, should be subjected to this behaviour, so eventually he intervened and politely asked the women to refrain from swearing,” Mr Double said.

Norwich Evening News: Mr Embery was travelling back to Norwich with his children when he confront a group of women on the trainMr Embery was travelling back to Norwich with his children when he confront a group of women on the train (Image: Newsquest)

His request was met with “hostility and abuse” and, despite a train guard intervening, their “loutish” behaviour continued, which included Mr Embery being warned he would be “knocked out” and being threatened with a beer bottle, the court heard.

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Mr Embery, 48, filmed the group on his phone, and tweeted a photo of them to train operator Greater Anglia in the hope it would “take action” against the women.

The tweet “went viral” and was seen by over a million people, Mr Double said.

Over the next two days, Dr Grady published tweets, with one saying: “Grow up Paul and take a day off bullying women and pretending to be outraged for clicks. It’s pathetic at any age, but especially yours.”

Norwich Evening News: Dr Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU)Dr Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) (Image: Steve Eason/Flickr)

She also tweeted: “It’s creepy to record young women on the train, share that video, and lie about them on social media for clout.”

Mr Double claimed the tweets from the “highly influential figure” had accused Mr Embery of “being a serial harasser of women and lying about the incident in question”.

The lawyer said they were retweeted and “liked” thousands of times causing “immeasurable harm” to the firefighter’s reputation.

“They portrayed him as a misogynist, a pervert and a liar, when all he was doing was seeking to defend himself, his children and fellow passengers from rowdy and threatening behaviour on public transport,” Mr Double said.

Norwich Evening News: Paul Embery is now a frequent contributor on GB NewsPaul Embery is now a frequent contributor on GB News (Image: GB News)

Dr Grady refused to apologise and withdraw her allegations after Mr Embery wrote to her, the judge was told, with the firefighter subsequently pursuing legal action.

“Dr Grady has now agreed to pay Mr Embery substantial damages and legal costs. She has additionally undertaken not to repeat the allegations or similar allegations,” Mr Double said.

After the short hearing, Mr Embery, who has previously been outspoken on topics including Brexit and transgender issues, said he would donate all his damages to charities “campaigning to defend women’s sex-based rights and defend the integrity of women’s sports”.