Council votes to rename Paul Haggis Park after 4 years of contention

London city council voted to strip Paul Haggis' name from a city park on Tuesday after continued calls for the park to be renamed, dating back to early 2018.

The decision comes after a U.S. jury ordered the London-born screenwriter and director to pay damages to a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

The final decision to rename the park was part of one of several pushes from within council since the issue was first raised nearly five years ago. In January of 2018, then-councillor Mo Salih moved that the park be renamed but failed to receive support from a city committee. Later that same month, he again attempted to push for the renaming of the park but was rejected.

The movement to strip Paul Haggis' name from the park regained momentum after news of additional sexual assault allegations against the London-born, Oscar-winning director following his arrest by Italian police in June 2022.

Haggis, 69, was in Italy for a film festival. Italian prosecutors said Haggis was placed under house arrest after a woman sought medical care following a sexual assault that allegedly took place from June 12 to June 15.

On Nov. 10, 2022, A jury in a New York civil trial ordered Haggis to pay at least $7.5 million U.S. to a woman who accused him of rape in a separate case.

Tuesday's vote passed unanimously and without debate.

The park will be renamed at a future date.