Mirror refused right to appeal over hacking damages

Mirror Group Newspapers has been refused permission to appeal against a High Court ruling which saw a record £1.2 million in damages paid out to eight high-profile phone-hacking victims.

Actress and businesswoman Sadie Frost received £260,250 following last month's court ruling, while former England footballer Paul Gascoigne was awarded £188,250.

Other payments were handed to TV executive Alan Yentob and soap actors Shobna Gulati, Lucy Taggart and Shane Ritchie, among others.

Mirror Group had accepted that it should pay compensation but believed the awards demanded by the original ruling were excessive and disproportionate.

Despite today's decision, the newspaper group can renew its application to the Court of Appeal.