Irving is set to appeal against libel verdict

By Lee Levitt and Simon Rocker

DAVID IRVING has said he will appeal against both the verdict and costs award in his unsuccessful libel action against Professor Deborah Lipstadt and Penguin Books.

The right-wing author -- branded a Holocaust denier in the judgment -- has already applied for permission to appeal against the verdict of Mr Justice Gray -- and the payment of costs to Penguin.

Documents supporting the application are to be filed within the next few days.

Mr Irving told the JC this week: "I am eager for round two. I do not think there will be a third. I have a job to do writing books."

He said he would "somehow" manage to fin-ance the appeal. He would be retaining the same junior counsel as in the costs hearing, and had instructed a senior counsel.

Meanwhile, Penguin Books has stepped up its legal fight to obtain £150,000 from Mr Irving, who has failed to make the interim payment towards the cost of the libel action.

The author -- who is at present writing in California -- was ordered by the courts to make a payment towards Penguin's costs last month.

Penguin legal director Helena Peacock said the publisher was issuing "a statutory demand on Mr Irving for the payment of the interim costs."

The demand gives him 21 days to pay. "If he doesn't, we would be entitled to make him bankrupt," Ms Peacock said.