The crack lawyers have been notified and are chafing at the bit.

This is true. Each message to a different group must be sent individually.

This is also true. I append some messages once posted in similar
circumstances so Barker cannot claim he is ignorant of the dilemma in which
he has placed himself:

[BEGIN HELPFUL MESSAGES FOR BARKER'S PERUSAL]

You are hereby served notice that you have 48 hours from the date of this
posting to apologise and retract that comment, before I then take further
action against you for defamation with your ISP and then further if I feel
it to be necessary.
Do not underestimate my willingness to do this. I take your libellous remark
extremely seriously.  (Neil Barker)
===========================================================
"Well, he'd better not go too quiet, as if I have not seen a full retraction
and apology in these two newsgroups by Sunday evening then his ISP will be
receiving a complain on Monday morning. If he does not then respond to his
ISP, telling him to apologise to me,
then his ISP will then receive a solicitor's letter to forward on to him.
It's his choice." - Neil Barker
========================================
Whilst that miscreant continues to post to dl in an unacceptable way (and
ukfdm fail to support dl in its clear intention to protect its standards)
I'm afraid that, if anything, it will get worse..              (Keith)
=======================================================
Unfortunately another person (also migrating from ukfdm) has posted a
defamatory remark, accusing a dler of 'forging'.
This is untenable. The person concerned really must reconsider their
position..      (Keith)
====================================================
Don't underestimate Neil, he WILL go to court if necessary.  - Steve Barlow
=========================================
In which circumstance a certain person should consider their position.
Seppuku is no longer an acceptable option..  - Keith
========================================
*How* it happened is not important. It may be considered mitigation. But the
deed - posting an accusation of forgery [in this case Barker posted an
accusation of crossposting] - requires recognising as defamatory and a
suitable retraction posted to usenet. And the clock is ticking... - (Keith)
======================================
I have been publicly and falsely accused of something I have not done.
Something which is defamatory to my character.  Thus, a full public
retraction is necessary. If it is not forthcoming, I *will* take it
further. It's his choice. (Neil Barker)
=====================================

[/END OF HELPFUL MESSAGES]

It is now up to you, Barker. The clock is ticking.