Prince Harry phone hacking – live: Piers Morgan denies wrongdoing as judge rules Duke was Mirror victim
Duke of Sussex found to be victim of phone hacking by Mirror publisher and awarded £140,000 in damages
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Your support makes all the difference.Mr Justice Fancourt ruled on Friday that Mr Morgan knew about and was involved in phone hacking when he was editor of the Daily Mirror as the Duke of Sussex won damages of £140,600 against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
But Mr Morgan insisted in a statement on Friday afternoon that he never hacked a phone and never told anyone to do so, before launching scathing attacks on Prince Harry, royal author Omid Scobie and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.
He told reporters outside his home in west London that the “real mission” of Harry and his wife Megan Markle is not to reform the media but “to destroy the British monarchy”.
It comes after the duke accused the Mirror publisher of “vendetta journalism” in a searing attack following the ruling.
Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne said that editors such as Mr Morgan “clearly knew” about the hacking, after the judge accepted evidence that the TalkTV host had been aware of voicemail interception.
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Watch: Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan responds to Harry victory in privacy case
In pictures: Prince Harry wins in phone hacking case as Piers Morgan issues denial
Prince Harry’s phone was hacked, but Piers Morgan denies all knowledge
Prince Harry has accused Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) of “vendetta journalism” after a High Court judge found that he was the victim of phone hacking and awarded him damages in his latest battle with the media.
Former editor Piers Morgan, who was named in the judgment, has since denied hacking phones and launched a blistering attack on the prince, accusing him of attempting to “destroy the British monarchy”.
In an extraordinary statement outside his home, the TalkTV host said: “As I’ve consistently said for many years now, I’ve never hacked a phone or told anyone else to and nobody has provided any actual evidence to prove that I did.”
Holly Evans reports:
Judge rules Prince Harry was hacked and awards him £140,000
Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan has hit back at hacking claims and accused the Duke of Sussex of attempting to ‘destroy the British monarchy’
Recap: Piers Morgan explains why he named ‘racist’ royal family members
Piers Morgan has explained why he named the two allegedly “racist” members of the royal family featured in a Dutch translation of new book Endgame.
Earlier this week, the broadcaster decided to name the senior members that were inadvertently identified in an excerpt from Omid Scobie’s book about the royal racism scandal involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2021.
The claims, made in Scobie’s follow-up to Finding Freedom, feature alongside excerpts detailing the deterioration of Harry and William’s sibling relationship in the hours leading up to the Queen’s death in September 2022.
Jacob Stolworthy reports:
Piers Morgan shares his three reasons for naming ‘racist’ royal family members
’Frankly, it’s time we were told exactly what was allegedly said,’ broadcaster said
Prince Harry hacking scandal is a nauseating tale of secrets and lies
You need a strong stomach to read Mr Justice Fancourt’s devastating 386-page judgment, published in the High Court yesterday. It is a nauseating catalogue of intrusion, lies, concealment and dishonesty by the very people we rely on to tell us the truth.
It is, in short, a bleak moment for journalism, a trade already beleaguered, distrusted and economically enfeebled.
In a world of information chaos, we need honest witnesses to shine a light into darkness. Instead of which, piece by painful piece, the murky truth about influential sections of the British newspaper industry has been revealed. And the truth is, they don’t much care about the truth – at least when it comes to themselves.
Read more here:
Prince Harry hacking scandal is a nauseating tale of secrets and lies
Piece by painful piece, the murky truth about the darker corners of the British newspaper industry has been revealed, writes former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger. But will the prince be thanked for it? Dream on…
Watch: Harry’s lawyer condemns phone hacking ‘cover-ups’ by Mirror publisher
Duke of Sussex demands police probe after High Court phone hacking ruling
The Duke of Sussex has called on the police to investigate a tabloid newspaper publisher after being awarded nearly £150,000 in damages in his High Court phone-hacking claim.
On Friday, a judge ruled that phone hacking became “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspaper (MGN) titles, and was practised “even to some extent” during the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.
Harry, 39, said his partially successful case against MGN was “vindicating and affirming” and “a great day for truth, as well as accountability”.
Read more here:
Duke of Sussex demands police probe after High Court phone hacking ruling
Harry was awarded nearly £150,000 in damages after bringing a partially successful High Court claim against Mirror Group Newspapers.
What findings did the High Court make about the Mirror’s publisher?
“Extensive” phone hacking took place at Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) titles over multiple years, a High Court judge has ruled, after a trial involving the Duke of Sussex.
In a 386-page ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Fancourt made a number of findings about the extent of unlawful information gathering at the Daily and Sunday Mirror and The People.
As well as phone hacking, this also included so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
The ruling came after a seven-week trial featuring a “generic” case about activities at MGN, as well as cases brought by four “representative” claimants, including Harry.
Here are the key findings in the landmark judgment:
What findings did the High Court make about the Mirror’s publisher?
Mr Justice Fancourt made a number of findings against the publisher of the Mirror on Friday.
Sunak declines to comment on ruling
Rishi Sunak declined to comment after a judge ruled on Friday that phone hacking became “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspaper (MGN) titles.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters during a visit in Teesside: “I haven’t seen that.
“I believe obviously in a free and fair press, but ultimately everybody needs to operate within the law.
“That’s what anyone would expect and that is exactly what this country has always been proud to stand by.”
Met says it is ‘carefully considering’ judgment as it confirms no investigation
The Metropolitan Police has said it is “carefully considering” Friday’s judgment as it confirmed that there is no ongoing investigation.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “We will carefully consider the civil judgment handed down today at the High Court. There is no ongoing investigation.”
It comes after Prince Harry called on the force to investigate bringing charges against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).