The duke of Sussex was visibly emotional as he told a court the life of his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, had been made “an absolute misery” by the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday.
Prince Harry was speaking as he concluded his evidence in his case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) at the High Court, much of which focused on articles about his relationships before meeting Meghan.
The prince’s voice broke as he said the court battle had been a “horrible experience” for his family and that all
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Prince Harry v. Mirror Group Newspapers: Key Findings and Ongoing Litigation
Table of Contents
Prince Harry won a importent legal battle against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in December 2023, successfully arguing that his phone was hacked by journalists working for the publisher’s titles – the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People. The case established that unlawful information gathering was “widespread and habitual” at MGN titles. however, the legal proceedings are ongoing, with Harry pursuing further claims and MGN seeking too appeal.
The Core Ruling and Evidence of Phone Hacking
The High Court of Justice ruled on December 15, 2023, that MGN’s journalists engaged in unlawful information gathering, specifically phone hacking, between 2006 and 2011. The judge, Mr. Justice Fancourt, found that 33 of the 108 articles examined where the product of unlawful information gathering. This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the UK phone hacking scandal,demonstrating the extent of illegal practices within a major media institution. Judgment – MGN v Duke of Sussex [2023] EWHC 3005 (Ch)
Detail: The judge emphasized that the hacking wasn’t isolated incidents but a systematic practice. Evidence presented included testimony from private investigators and internal MGN documents suggesting a culture of unlawful information gathering. The court heard evidence that journalists routinely tasked private investigators with obtaining information illegally.
Example: The court examined an article published in the Daily Mirror on January 13, 2004, detailing Prince harry’s activities at a nightclub. The judge found it highly probable that the information came from phone hacking, as it was unlikely to have been obtained through legitimate means. The Guardian – Prince Harry wins phone hacking claim against Mirror Group Newspapers
Mirror Group Newspapers’ Response and Appeal
Mirror Group Newspapers admitted to unlawful information gathering in 2011 but disputed the extent of the hacking and the timeframe alleged by Prince Harry. Following the initial ruling, MGN issued a statement expressing regret for the past actions of its journalists and outlining steps taken to prevent future unlawful activity. Though, MGN is seeking permission to appeal the ruling, arguing that the judge’s findings were flawed. MGN PLC - Statement following High Court judgment in Prince Harry case
Detail: MGN’s appeal focuses on challenging the judge’s assessment of the evidence and the methodology used to determine which articles were obtained through unlawful means. They argue that the judge relied too heavily on circumstantial evidence and did not adequately consider alternative explanations for how the information was obtained.
Example: MGN has highlighted that the judge acknowledged that some information could have been obtained through legitimate sources, such as public records or tips from sources.They contend that the judge underestimated the role of these legitimate sources in the articles examined. Reuters – Mirror Group Newspapers seek appeal in Prince Harry hacking case
Prince Harry’s Ongoing Claims and Future Implications
Prince Harry is pursuing further claims against MGN, alleging that phone hacking continued beyond 2011 and that MGN failed to adequately investigate the extent of the unlawful activity. He is also seeking to amend his claim to include allegations of unlawful information gathering by journalists working for othre MGN titles. The case has broader implications for the media industry, possibly leading to further legal challenges and increased scrutiny of journalistic practices. BBC News – Prince Harry wins phone hacking case against Mirror
Detail: Harry’s legal team argues that MGN deliberately concealed evidence of phone hacking and that the publisher’s internal investigations were inadequate. They are seeking to obtain further documents and testimony from
