CELEBRITY
Prince Harry Awarded $180,000 In Mirror Group Phone-Hacking Case
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Prince Harry has been awarded $180,000 after a U.K. judge ruled Friday that he was the victim of extensive phone hacking by the Mirror Group, which publishes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and more.
The Duke of Sussex was not in the High Court on London on Friday morning when Justice Timothy Fancourt ruled that his personal cellphone was likely hacked to a modest extent.
The judge found that 15 of the 33 articles presented by Prince Harry’s attorneys as evidence were the product of phone hacking of his mobile phone or the mobile phones of his associates, or the product of other unlawful information-gathering.
Outside the court, Prince Harry’s lawyer David Sherbourne read a statement on his behalf, calling the result vindicating and affirming.
Today is a great day for truth as well as accountability, Harry said.
Ive been told that slaying dragons will get you burned. But in light of todays victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press – its a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues, he said.
Harry, 39, was one of four British celebrities chosen as representative claimants in the case, out of more than 100 people claiming to be victims of hacking and other illegal activity by the Mirror Group between 1991 and 2022. He made history as the first member of the core British royal family to testify in court since King Edward VII in 1890, before he became monarch.
Fancourt found the hacking was widespread and habitual and that senior managers at the Mirror Group were aware of the illegal hacking and covered it up.
We welcome today’s judgment that gives the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago, a spokesperson for the Mirror Group said in a statement. Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation.
TMX contributed to this article.
