Comment by mytailorisrich

Libel strictly implies false statement and it is a full defence to show that the statement is true:

"It is a defence to an action for defamation for the defendant to show that the imputation conveyed by the statement complained of is substantially true." [1]

That has to be the case otherwise it would be unlawful to say or publish anything negative about someone!

Public interest defence applies when the statement published was false.

Note that convicted criminals are always publicly named unless the court forbids it. In that latter case naming the person would still not be libel but contempt of court (which potentially means jail).

[1] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/26