Paul Gascoigne's ex Sheryl accepts libel damages from newspaper

Paul Gascoigne's ex-wife Sheryl accepted undisclosed libel damages today over a claim that she prevented him from seeing their son Regan.

Ms Gascoigne was at London's High Court for the settlement of her action against MGN Limited over a December 2009 article in The People.

Her solicitor, Roddy Chisholm-Batten, told Mr Justice Tugendhat that the story - "Gazza heartache: Star in new booze fear after rift with son" - was untrue.

It suggested that Ms Gascoigne had refused to speak to her ex-husband and had deliberately changed her telephone numbers to prevent him seeing Regan over Christmas.

The article also suggested it was feared that Gascoigne would revert to heavy drinking as a consequence of her "insensitivity".

Mr Chisholm-Batten said that MGN wished to apologise publicly for the distress and embarrassment caused and had agreed to pay damages and Ms Gascoigne's legal costs.

MGN's solicitor, Louise Jacobs, apologised and hoped the statement would help set the record straight.

Outside court, Ms Gascoigne commented: "I'd just like to say that I was disappointed they wouldn't apologise to Regan also."