September, Friday 20, 2024

Prince Harry awaits verdict on allegations of hacking


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The Duke of Sussex will receive the verdict on Friday morning regarding his landmark case against Mirror Group Newspapers for unlawfully obtaining information. This is a crucial moment in his allegations of phone hacking and other unethical practices used to acquire stories. A High Court judge will decide on 33 sample stories that Prince Harry claims were obtained illegally. The Mirror Group lawyers have dismissed these allegations as purely speculative. In June, Prince Harry became the first senior royal in modern times to personally testify in court, facing questioning over his claims that the group's newspapers - the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and People - published numerous stories about him over many years based on unlawfully obtained information. The judge's ruling, which is expected to exceed 100 detailed pages, will be released after 10:30. Separate rulings for each story are likely, potentially resulting in wins and losses for both sides. Prince Harry stated in court that the breach of his privacy has negatively impacted his relationships, including with his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, and he has endured invasion and hatred. The Mirror Group's lawyers argue that the prince's evidence fails to definitively prove a single instance of hacking and that the hacking claims are purely speculative. This civil case sees Prince Harry seeking £320,000 in damages for the 33 stories. However, the prince's objective has always extended beyond monetary compensation; he wants to prove his allegations of phone hacking and other intrusion, which he blames for causing significant anxiety and disruption in his life. The stakes are high for the Mirror newspapers, with estimates suggesting they have already incurred £100 million in damages and legal costs from previous hacking cases. If Prince Harry succeeds, it could open the floodgates for numerous other claimants. The judge's findings may also lead to questions about who within the newspaper group's hierarchy was aware of the wrongdoing. Prince Harry's case against Mirror Group is one of several legal battles he is pursuing against newspaper groups, including Associated Newspapers and News Group Newspapers. While he has encountered various procedural legal battles and counter-claims, this ruling holds significant importance as it follows a full trial. The judge will also address allegations raised by three other claimants: Coronation Street actors Michael Le Vell (real name Michael Turner) and Nikki Sanderson, as well as Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse.