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

Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan responds to Prince Harry victory in privacy case

Piers Morgan has denied any wrongdoing as a High Court judge has ruled Prince Harry was the victim of phone hacking by the Mirror publisher.

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.

Key Points

• Piers Morgan breaks silence on Prince Harry hacking win against Mirror publisher
• Prince Harry wins £140,000 in damages against Mirror Group Newspapers
• Judge accepts Omid Scobie’s evidence that Piers Morgan knew about phone hacking
• 'Extensive’ hacking at MGN titles, including during Leveson Inquiry
• 15 of 33 articles were product of unlawful information gathering

[15 December 2023 05:30 · Jane Dalton]

Why won’t Harry defend his Dad?

It’s just a few days since Harry and his wife Meghan were in the headlines following publication of the book Endgame over the royals’ fallout.

The Dutch version of the book identified the King as one of two people who were allegedly racist for questioning baby Archie’s skin colour.

Royal biographer Angela Levin asks why Prince Harry did not speak out to defend his Dad:

[15 December 2023 04:00 · Jane Dalton]

James Hewitt ‘father’ stories designed to oust me, says Harry

In an explosive witness statement, the prince claimed that stories about rumours that his father was James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family.

He also claimed that the UK government was at “rock bottom”:

[15 December 2023 02:00 · Jane Dalton]

Soap star says case 'took five years’ off his life

Prince Harry’s case is being heard alongside similar claims by actor Michael Turner, who is known professionally as Michael Le Vell and best known for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, actress Nikki Sanderson, who was also in the soap, and comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife, Fiona Wightman.

The High Court heard that Mr Le Vell had been in some “really dark places”.

At the hearing in June, asked by his barrister David Sherborne how the process had felt, Mr Le Vell replied: “It’s been one of the most distressing… this took about five years off my life.

“It’s been emotional, and it has made me go to somewhere I never thought I would go again – those really dark places – but sometimes you have got to stick up for yourself and this is the time to do that.”

[14 December 2023 23:50 · Jane Dalton]

Prince answered questions for eight hours

Harry faced eight hours of questioning over two days during a witness box appearance that drew the attention of the world’s media.

It was thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

His appearance came just over a month after he attended the coronation of his father the King.

[14 December 2023 22:05 · Jane Dalton]

Coronation Street star ‘furious’ at phone hacking

One of those who sued Mirror Group Newspapers alongside the prince is Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who told the High Court it made him “furious” to think journalists were hacking into his voicemails when he was accused of sexual offences, of which he was later cleared:

[14 December 2023 21:40 · Jane Dalton]

‘No evidence’ for many hacking claims, says publisher

When the case opened back in May, a lawyer for Mirror Group Newspapers argued that a “very substantial proportion” of the articles involved in the case were at “a breathtaking level of triviality”:

[14 December 2023 20:01 · Jane Dalton]

Coronation Street star ‘furious’ at phone hacking

One of those who sued Mirror Group Newspapers alongside the prince is Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who told the High Court it made him “furious” to think journalists were hacking into his voicemails when he was accused of sexual offences, of which he was later cleared:

[14 December 2023 18:36 · Jane Dalton]

Harry should win £320,000 payout, lawyers say

In a trial in June, the prince’s lawyers argued he should be awarded up to £320,000 in compensation over the alleged misuse of his private information.

Mirror Group Newspapers largely contested the claims that 147 stories from 1996 to 2010, published by MGN titles, used information obtained through unlawful means.

[14 December 2023 17:18 · Sam Rkaina]

Prince awaits judge’s ruling

The Duke of Sussex and other high-profile people are awaiting a judge’s ruling in their case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) on Friday.

Prince Harry, 39, sued the publisher for damages over allegations of unlawful information gathering, claiming journalists at its titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

The seven-week high-profile High Court trial in London ended in June.

Mr Justice Fancourt is due to give his ruling at a hearing on tomorrow.

(AFP/Getty)