Mirror Group to pay Prince Harry 'substantial sum' on remaining phone hacking claims

Duke of Sussex's barrister said Mirror Group Newspapers will pay Harry "a substantial additional sum by way of damages" as well as his legal costs, ITV News Correspondent Neil Connery reports

The Duke of Sussex has settled for a "substantial sum" in the remaining parts of his phone hacking claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, the High Court has heard.

In December, the High Court ruled to award £140,600 in damages to the Duke of Sussex after a trial found his mobile was hacked by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) journalists between 2006-2011.

The judge ruled the media group - which includes The Daily and Sunday Mirror and Sunday People - had been involved in "extensive" phone hacking techniques on a "widespread and habitual basis".

During a hearing in London on Friday, his barrister David Sherborne confirmed a settlement had been reached between the duke and MGN.

He said Mirror Group Newspapers will pay Harry “a substantial additional sum by way of damages” as well as his legal costs.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Sherbone read a statement on behalf of Prince Harry and said: "Everything we said was happening at Mirror Group was in fact happening, and indeed far worse as the Court ruled in its extremely damning judgement."

He added that the case had "uncovered and proved the shockingly dishonest" practices from MGN and how it "sought to conceal the truth."

It claimed that Piers Morgan, who had a stint as editor across the years that the articles were published, "knew perfectly well what was going on."

"His contempt for the Court’s ruling and his continued attacks ever since demonstrate why it was so important to obtain a clear and detailed judgment."

Piers Morgan was the editor of the Daily Mirror between 1995 and 2004 Credit: PA

In December, Mr Morgan delivered a scathing speech outside his London home, alleging that Prince Harry "wouldn’t know the truth if it slapped him around his California-tanned face."

Mr Morgan denies claims he knew about the phone-hacking.

An MGN spokesperson said: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which gives our business further clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago and for which we have apologised.”

Mr Sherborne said the publisher would make an interim payment towards the costs of £400,000.

A total of 33 articles in Harry’s claim were examined during the trial last year, with 15 articles found to have been the product of unlawful information gathering.

Harry took legal action after being told he would no longer be given the 'same degree' of publicly-funded protection when in the country. Credit: PA

Mr Justice Fancourt concluded that Harry’s phone was hacked “to a modest extent” by MGN, awarding him £140,600 in damages.

But there were a further 115 articles were in his claim, which may have been the subject of a further trial.

Prince Harry's claim was that MGN journalists were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging”, or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

Harry, 39, became the first senior British royal to give evidence in 130 years, when he became involved in five cases at the High Court, including similar claims brought against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) and News Group Newspapers (NGN).

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