Prince Harry: Mirror’s publisher apologizes in phone hacking trial

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Tom Symonds, Home Affairs Correspondent, and James Gregory BBC News, May 10, 2023, 11:23 GMT

Updated 19 minutes ago

photo caption,

Prince Harry attended the High Court in March for a separate hearing against a newspaper publisher

The publisher of The Mirror has apologized to Prince Harry for illegal information gathering, at the start of a trial over alleged phone hacking.

The Mirror Group (MGN) newspaper said it would never be repeated.

Lawyers representing Harry told the court he was subjected to “the most intrusive methods of obtaining personal information”.

Harry is one of many high-profile personalities who have filed lawsuits against MGN.

The lawyers argue that company executives were aware of the widespread phone hack but failed to act.

In a written report, MGN – which also publishes the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – said it “unreservedly apologizes” for one instance of illegal information-gathering against Harry and said the legal challenge brought by the prince “necessitates compensation”.

Andrew Green KC said a private investigator was instructed by an MGN journalist at The People to illegally gather information about Harry’s activities at the Chinawhite nightclub one night in February 2004.

However, the later article in The People is not one of the claims the prince has made, the lawyer added.

MGN also denies allegations of intercepted voice mail in the cases being examined, including Harry’s.

The publisher also claims that some cases were brought beyond the legal time limit.

An earlier hearing was told Harry’s case focused on 148 articles published between 1996 and 2010.

Barrister David Sherborne, who is representing the duke, told the court: “We all remember the images of him walking behind his mother’s coffin.

“From that moment on, as a schoolboy and from his career in the military and as a young adult, it was clear that he was subjected to the most intrusive methods of obtaining his personal information.”

The estate of the late singer George Michael and actor Ricky Tomlinson has filed lawsuits against MGN, with “test cases” – including Harry’s – selected to go to court from a wider pool of claimants.

Other “representative” cases slated for trial are that of former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife Fiona Whiteman and actor Michael Turner – who played Kevin Webster in Coronation Street and whose stage name is Michael Le Vell. All are expected to testify during the six to seven week trial.

Prince Harry is expected to testify in June – the first time a senior member of the royal family has been a witness in court in modern times.

The hearing focuses on what senior MGN executives knew about the widespread phone hack – including former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan.

Mr Sherburne told the court that illegal information gathering was usual and widespread in three papers from 1991 to 2011.

He described a “flood of illegality,” adding that “this flood was authorized and sanctioned” by senior executives.

In written arguments, Sherburne said it was “inconceivable” that Mr. Morgan and other editors were unaware that MGN journalists were directing private investigators for information.

Systematic and widespread use by principal investigators [private investigators] By MGN journalists illegally obtaining private information has been permitted at higher levels,” said Mr Sherburne.

Mr Morgan denied any knowledge of phone hacking or any illegal activity in the Daily Mirror when he was editor.

MGN previously settled a number of claims against it regarding stories obtained through illegal means.

She also took part in the 2015 trial, the only trial to take place during the long-running litigation, which saw claims brought by former soccer player Paul Gascoigne, actress Sadie Frost and Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati.

Last month, the group’s lawyers said all witnesses for their side would testify in person, paving the way for Prince Harry to take the stand.

It is party to proceedings linked to an alleged phone hack against two other companies – publisher of the Daily Mail and publisher of The Sun, both of which deny any wrongdoing.

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