Manchester Arena attack survivor tells of facing conspiracy theorist

Twenty-two people died and hundreds more were injured when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade device in the foyer of the venue as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert.

Hall had told the court his claims were in the public interest as a journalist and claimed “millions of people” had “bought a lie” about the attack.

Mr Hibbert told BBC Radio Lancashire: “The trial was in July and I came face to face with him for a week, when he’s actually there in person and he’s saying he believes these things.

“The worst part of it all was when I had to get Eve’s birth certificate and send it to the court because he didn’t think that I was Eve’s dad.

“It still hits me in the heart that he was saying that. I’ll never forgive him for that.

“All the other things are sticks and stones, but when somebody says you’re not a person’s dad, that shows you how low he is.”

He said Hall, who also had to pay about £240,000 in court costs, showed “no remorse”.

“He did a runner out of the courtroom. It was like something out of Wylie Coyote, all the steam coming from his feet when he ran out,” Mr Hibbert said.

“He firmly believes there was no bomb, it’s a government set-up and we’re crisis actors. Even the judge said it’s absurd, fantastical. You believe what you’re saying and that’s his right, but I’m not having it.”