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Update 16 March

Discussions are underway to set up an appeal fund, the aim being that any money raised should be ring-fenced by the council for a good cause, such as respite care. If anyone has any experience of running a public appeal, please could they get in touch via the e-mail address on the blog. The hope is that we can  make something good come out of this.

Thanks also to all of those who have sent messages. Normally this blog tries to publish all comments, even those which may be considered offensive. Of the messages so far received, only two have been hostile, and the people concerned are welcome to write to the Carmarthen Journal which will no doubt be happy to publish such things. Cneifiwr's normal open door policy will be resumed when we move on to other subjects.

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As everyone will have heard by now, the judgment went against Jacqui Thompson, and the chief executive was awarded £25,000 in damages.

The text of the judgement can be found here and here, and a BBC report on the outcome can be found here.

David Allen Greene, who writes for the New Statesman on legal matters tweeted his first reaction thus:

"shockingly illiberal and a genuine deterrent to public participation in local government."

And that sums it up.

Jacqui and her legal team are considering whether to appeal a judgement which will have devastating financial consequences for her and her family. For the rest of us, this is a very black day for accountable, open and transparent local government in Carmarthenshire, and it poses a serious threat to free speech.

There is talk of an appeal to raise funds to help her, and I hope to be able to report more on that in the coming days.