The Duke of Sussex went to the High Court for the start of the case
A ruling is due on Friday over hacking claims brought by the Duke of Sussex and others against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
Prince Harry sued the publisher for damages over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
He claimed journalists at its titles – the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – were linked to methods including phone-hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
Harry alleges 147 stories from 1996 to 2010, published by MGN titles, used information obtained through unlawful means.
At the start of the trial, seven months ago, the High Court was told the publisher of the Daily Mirror newspaper has apologised “unreservedly” to Prince Harry for unlawfully gathering information about him.
The court heard the “systemic” use of private investigators by journalists to unlawfully obtain information was authorised by senior editors including Piers Morgan.
The prince’s lawyer said MGN’s failure to call Mr Morgan to give evidence left “fatal holes” in the defence case.
Mr Morgan denied any wrongdoing.
Key Points
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Why won’t Harry defend his Dad?
It’s just a few days since Harry and his wife Meghan were in the headlines following publication of the book Endgame over the royals’ fallout.
The Dutch version of the book identified the King as one of two people who were allegedly racist for questioning baby Archie’s skin colour.
Royal biographer Angela Levin asks why Prince Harry did not speak out to defend his Dad:
Why won’t Prince Harry speak out to defend his dad?
As the royal ‘exposer-in-chief’ Omid Scobie is lambasted for betraying so many private conversations with his gossipy book ‘Endgame’, Harry’s biographer Angela Levin asks why has there been no word from the Sussexes
Jane Dalton15 December 2023 05:30
James Hewitt ‘father’ stories designed to oust me, says Harry
In an explosive witness statement, the prince claimed that stories about rumours that his father was James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family.
He also claimed that the UK government was at “rock bottom”:
Jane Dalton15 December 2023 04:00
Soap star says case ‘took five years’ off his life
Prince Harry’s case is being heard alongside similar claims by actor Michael Turner, who is known professionally as Michael Le Vell and best known for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, actress Nikki Sanderson, who was also in the soap, and comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife, Fiona Wightman.
The High Court heard that Mr Le Vell had been in some “really dark places”.
At the hearing in June, asked by his barrister David Sherborne how the process had felt, Mr Le Vell replied: “It’s been one of the most distressing… this took about five years off my life.
“It’s been emotional, and it has made me go to somewhere I never thought I would go again – those really dark places – but sometimes you have got to stick up for yourself and this is the time to do that.”
Jane Dalton15 December 2023 02:00
Prince answered questions for eight hours
Harry faced eight hours of questioning over two days during a witness box appearance that drew the attention of the world’s media.
It was thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.
His appearance came just over a month after he attended the coronation of his father the King.
Jane Dalton14 December 2023 23:50
Coronation Street star ‘furious’ at phone hacking
One of those who sued Mirror Group Newspapers alongside the prince is Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who told the High Court it made him “furious” to think journalists were hacking into his voicemails when he was accused of sexual offences, of which he was later cleared:
Jane Dalton14 December 2023 22:05
‘No evidence’ for many hacking claims, says publisher
When the case opened back in May, a lawyer for Mirror Group Newspapers argued that a “very substantial proportion” of the articles involved in the case were at “a breathtaking level of triviality”:
Jane Dalton14 December 2023 21:40
Coronation Street star ‘furious’ at phone hacking
One of those who sued Mirror Group Newspapers alongside the prince is Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who told the High Court it made him “furious” to think journalists were hacking into his voicemails when he was accused of sexual offences, of which he was later cleared:
Jane Dalton14 December 2023 20:01
Harry should win £320,000 payout, lawyers say
Mirror Group Newspapers largely contested the claims that 147 stories from 1996 to 2010, published by MGN titles, used information obtained through unlawful means.
Jane Dalton14 December 2023 18:36
Prince awaits judge’s ruling
The Duke of Sussex and other high-profile people are awaiting a judge’s ruling in their case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) on Friday.
Prince Harry, 39, sued the publisher for damages over allegations of unlawful information gathering, claiming journalists at its titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
The seven-week high-profile High Court trial in London ended in June.
Mr Justice Fancourt is due to give his ruling at a hearing on tomorrow.
Sam Rkaina14 December 2023 17:18