Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey following the coronation of King Charles III in London on 6 May 2023. Photo Credit: AP
UK tabloid publisher apologizes to Prince Harry illegally seeking information aboutShahi is bringing up alleged “industrial-level” phone-hacking at the start of a trial in which he is due to give evidence.
Harry, 38, and some 100 celebrities, including actors, sports stars, singers and TV personalities, have sued publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over massive phone-hacking, deception and other illegal means between 1991 and Accused of accessing private information. and 2011.
The claimants say the illegal behavior at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People took place with the full knowledge of senior editors and top executives, who they say knew about it, approved it and actively covered it up .
The titles are owned by Reach.
MGN is contesting the allegations, arguing that some claims have been brought too late, and dismissing most others as if there was no evidence that Harry, King Charles’ younger son, was the victim of hacking. Was. It denies that any senior person was aware of illegal actions.
However, in documents at the High Court in London, MGN admitted on one occasion that a private investigator had been employed at a London nightclub in 2004 to illegally collect evidence about him, saying that ” Apologizes in no uncertain terms and accepts that (Harry) deserves appropriate compensation”.
MGN’s lawyers said, “The fee paid (£75) shows that there was very little work involved.”
Harry, who was not present for the start of the hearing, has been chosen as one of four trial cases for the seven-week trial and is due to give evidence in person himself in early June, the first to do so British royal. 19th century, according to local media.
David Sherborne, the lawyer representing Harry and the other claimants, said: “Prince or not, the openly illegal and illegal methods used by the defendants to obtain every piece of information about their lives away from royal duties are quite shocking.” were horrifying.” Court on Wednesday.
“No one should have been subjected to this.”
Among the MGN figures Sherborne said about the “industrial scale” hacking was high-profile media figure Piers Morgan, editor of the Daily Mirror from 1995 to 2004 and former CNN presenter.
In his written court submission, Sherborne said that former Mirror employees had told him that Morgan, who has always denied any involvement in the hacking, knew about it.
On Wednesday, Morgan’s Twitter account posted a photo of Harry and his wife, Meghan, taken from a recent episode of the animated comedy “South Park,” with the prince holding a “we want our privacy” banner.
Coronation
test started a few days later His father’s coronation on Saturday where Harry appeared only briefly and played no formal role. He is believed to have immediately returned to California where his son, Prince Archie, was celebrating his fourth birthday.
The Mirror case is one of four Harry is currently pursuing against the newspapers, saying it had a duty to expose “crimes” committed by the tabloids.
Since stepping down from their royal roles in 2020, Harry and Meghan have lashed out at both the press and the palace, including those working for their brother Prince William and their stepmother, Queen Camilla, saying they “lied” to the media had colluded.
MGN’s lawyers said in their court submissions that many of the approximately 140 stories that Harry claims may have come about through illegal means were in fact told by royal aides.
Lawyers for the publishers said, “Much of the information came from information disclosed by or on behalf of the royal family or members of the royal family.”
However, a document submitted by Harry’s lawyers detailed the events of “highly suspicious” calls made by MGN to friends, colleagues and family, including his sister-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales.
It also alleged that investigators were paid £267 to see Harry and people close to him, including the late mother of Charles, William and Harry, Princess Diana.
The document states that MGN’s behavior eventually led to his separation from ex-girlfriend Chelsea Davy.