Piers Morgan says he refuses to take ‘lectures on privacy’ from Prince Harry
The fourth day of Prince Harry’s hearing against the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) will resume today in the High Court in London.
A trial of “representative” claims, including the Duke of Sussex, former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife Fiona Wightman and actor Michael Turner, will continue with evidence from ex-Sunday Mirror journalist Dan Evans.
The claims include phone hacking, securing information through deception – also known as “blagging” – and hiring private investigators for unlawful activities.
On Friday, Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne said out of the 147 articles, 33 are being examined in the trial – in his claim.
He said: “The Duke of Sussex, one of the most prominently covered individuals by the defendant’s titles… [MGN]’s case is throughout the entire period… there was only one occasion of unlawful information gathering.”
MGN – publisher of titles including The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – is contesting the cases and has said there is “no evidence, or no sufficient evidence, of voicemail interception in any of these four claims”.
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Unlawful information gathering authorised at top levels of publisher, court told
Unlawful information gathering was authorised “at the highest levels” at the publisher of The Mirror, the High Court was told.
On the second day of the case on Thursday, barrister David Sherborne said one of the “most seriously troubling features” of their cases was the allegation that those responsible for management and finances of the company “were well aware of what was going on”.
He told the London court: “Even people you would expect to be ensuring honesty… (were) themselves so bound up in this wrongdoing.
“It’s no wonder it was so widespread… it is no wonder it was so successfully covered up by the PLC.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 May 2023 09:30
Former Sunday Mirror journalist Dan Evans to give evidence today
Former Sunday Mirror journalist Dan Evans will give evidence in court today.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 May 2023 08:36
‘I’ve not been called to give evidence’: What Piers Morgan has said about phone hacking accusations
The Duke of Sussex and other celebrities including Coronation Street actors Nikki Sanderson and Michael Le Vell have accused Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) of unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking and the use of private investigators.
On the second day of the seven-week trial, which began on Wednesday, the duke’s lawyer David Sherborne told the court that Mr Morgan “lies right at the heart” of the allegations, and insisted it was “inconceivable” that he and several other MGN editors had been unaware of the alleged wrongdoing.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 May 2023 08:17
‘Simply no evidence’ for many Mirror phone hacking claims, Prince Harry trial told
In case you missed this from Friday:
There is “simply no evidence” for many of the claims of phone hacking by Mirror newspapers, the High Court has heard.
A lawyer for Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) further argued that a “very substantial proportion” of the articles involved in the case were at “a breathtaking level of triviality”.
Claims brought by four individuals, including Prince Harry, against MGN titles The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, entered their third day of a trial on Friday.
The claims include phone hacking, securing information through deception – also known as “blagging” – and hiring private investigators for unlawful activities.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 May 2023 08:16
Welcome
… to our liveblog where we will keep you updated with the latest as the phone hacking trial continues in the High Court today.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 May 2023 08:14