Man who defamed teacher says he's not a 'troll'

A former NSW student who defamed a teacher on social media and was forced to pay $105,000 in damages denies he is a troll and says the ordeal has left him depressed. 

Andrew Farley, who attended Orange High School, was this week found to have defamed teacher Christine Mickle on Twitter and Facebook in November 2012, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

He was ordered to pay the music teacher $85,000 in compensation and $20,000 in aggravated damages.

"This has really shaken me. I have been depressed, I have been seeking help for my mental state… and it's all because of one comment on Facebook," Mr Farley told Newcastle radio station KOFM.

The 20-year-old made the comments a year after he left school but said he "never meant to defame her".

"It was a discussion between four of my friends and it was never meant for a public broadcast. I'm sorry it did go to the extent that it did."

Mr Farley, who did not appear at the trial, said he only had about 50 Facebook friends and 60 Twitter followers at the time.

The teacher immediately went on sick leave and only returned on a limited basis late last year.

The judge ruled that the former student seemed to have a grudge against the teacher because he believed she had something to do with his father leaving the school.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Author: Emily Crane, Approving editor: Simon Black