Judge deems phone hacking “widespread and habitual”
Justice Timothy Fancourt of London’s High Court has ruled that phone hacking was “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspapers over a span of many years. The judge found that private investigators “were an integral part of the system” used to unlawfully gather information on Prince Harry and his associates. Fancourt further stated that executives at the papers were aware of these practices and actively covered them up.
U.K. outlets invade Prince Harry’s privacy
Fancourt’s ruling concluded that the U.K. outlets invaded Prince Harry’s privacy by using unlawful information-gathering to produce 15 of the 33 articles examined during the trial. These articles were chosen as a representative sampling from nearly 150 instances cited by the prince. Speaking outside the court, Prince Harry’s lawyer shared a statement on his behalf, stating, “Today is a great day for truth, as well as accountability.”
Legal fees and ongoing battles
This ruling comes shortly after Prince Harry was ordered by another U.K. judge to pay nearly £50,000 in legal fees to the publisher of the Daily Mail. The payment follows his unsuccessful court challenge against the article that claimed he had tried to hide his efforts to retain publicly funded protection in the U.K. after stepping back from his role as a working member of the royal family.
The first of several lawsuits
The case against Mirror Group Newspapers is the first of several lawsuits Prince Harry has filed against the media. He has accused three publishers of unlawfully snooping on him and his family for sensational stories about the royal family. Additionally, he is challenging the U.K. government’s decision to strip him of his security detail after relinquishing his status as a working royal.
Damages awarded for distress and outrage
Justice Fancourt awarded Prince Harry damages for the distress he suffered as a result of the phone hacking, as well as an additional sum for aggravated damages. The latter reflects the “particular hurt and sense of outrage” caused by the fact that two directors at Trinity Mirror, the parent company of Mirror Group Newspapers, were aware of the illegal activity but failed to intervene. Fancourt condemned their decision to turn a blind eye and conceal the wrongdoing.
A quest for accountability
Prince Harry sought £440,000 as part of his mission to hold the U.K. press accountable for what he perceives as relentless harassment of him and his family. This landmark case made him the first senior member of the British royal family to testify in court in over a century. In his testimony, he alleged that Mirror Group Newspapers had employed journalists who eavesdropped on voicemails and hired private investigators to unlawfully obtain information about him.
Mirror Group Newspapers responds
Mirror Group Newspapers issued a statement welcoming the judgment, stating that it provides “necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago.” The company apologized unreservedly where historical wrongdoing occurred, taking full responsibility and providing appropriate compensation. Mirror Group Newspapers has previously paid over £100 million in other phone hacking lawsuits but has consistently denied any wrongdoing in Prince Harry’s case.
The impact of media intrusion
Prince Harry’s memoir, published earlier this year, sheds light on the detrimental effects of media intrusion. In the book titled “Spare,” he blames the paparazzi for the car crash that took the life of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. He also emphasizes that press intrusions played a significant role in his and his wife Meghan Markle’s decision to step back as senior royals. Currently, Prince Harry resides in California with the Duchess of Sussex and their young children.
(Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.)