Prince Harry Awaits Ruling In Case Against Daily Mirror Publisher
The Royal Courts of Justice in London. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
In a high-stakes legal showdown, Prince Harry is poised to receive a decisive ruling Friday in his long-standing hacking claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
The Duke of Sussex, 39, accused the publisher, known for its flagship titles such as the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror, of engaging in unlawful information gathering methods, raising significant concerns about journalistic ethics and privacy violations.
Harry’s lawsuit, a riveting drama unfolding in the British legal system, asserts that MGN’s journalists resorted to phone hacking, “blagging” or acquiring information through deception, and employing private investigators for illicit purposes. This allegedly widespread misconduct spanned from 1996 to 2010, with Harry pinpointing 147 articles across MGN publications that he claims were sourced from these unlawful practices.
The gravity of these allegations was underlined at the trial’s commencement seven months ago. The High Court heard how MGN unreservedly apologised to Prince Harry for their actions, acknowledging a “systemic” problem in their use of private investigators, authorised by high-ranking editors, including Piers Morgan. Morgan, however, has staunchly denied any wrongdoing. The absence of Morgan’s testimony in court was notably highlighted by Harry’s legal team as leaving “fatal holes” in MGN’s defence.
Prince Harry’s legal battle is not an isolated case. His claims were heard alongside those of actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, actress Nikki Sanderson, and Fiona Wightman, ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse. They collectively allege that MGN’s questionable tactics spanned from 1991 to 2011, indicating a potential decades-long breach of privacy norms.
The June trial, presided over by Mr. Justice Fancourt, featured a host of witnesses – former journalists, editors, private investigators, and MGN executives. It also included written testimonies from friends, family, and colleagues of the plaintiffs, painting a comprehensive picture of the alleged intrusion.
David Sherborne, representing Prince Harry, revealed in his opening arguments that the alleged illegal activities of Mirror journalists extended to listening to voicemail messages from Princess Diana during Morgan’s tenure as editor. Furthermore, the strained relationship between Harry and Prince William and the public dissection of Harry’s relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy were attributed to the Mirror Group’s alleged unlawful activities.
Prince Harry, enduring eight hours of questioning over two days, became a focal point of international media coverage, underscoring the case’s significance.
MGN has largely contested the claims, denying that the disputed articles resulted from phone hacking and asserting that most did not arise from any other illegal activity. While MGN admitted to limited unlawful activities concerning the Duke, Sanderson, and Wightman, it rejected the bulk of their claims and entirely dismissed Turner’s case.
This legal confrontation is among several ongoing disputes between Prince Harry and the British press, highlighting a tumultuous relationship. Notably, another libel claim against the Mail On Sunday over an article about security arrangements is set for trial. On Monday, Harry was ordered to pay £48,000 to the newspaper after an unsuccessful bid to strike out part of the paper’s defence in this case.
