It can be just possible that the existence of a rumour makes it right to repeat the rumour without checking its truth. Repetition need not always be quite unjustifiable.
Citations:
Independent 20-Jul-1995, Times 11-Jul-1995, Gazette 31-Aug-1995
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Defamation
Updated: 21 January 2023; Ref: scu.77912