Duchess settles hacking case

Former professional footballer Jeff Brazier, who is the father of two children from his relationship with the late Jade Goody, has received "substantial" damages today.

The court heard he was targeted by News Group Newspapers (NGN) from about 2002 onwards because of interest in him and his on/off relationship with Ms Goody.

Mark Thomson, for Mr Brazier, said: "The claimant is particularly upset by the defendant's unlawful activities as their activities caused distrust between the claimant and Ms Goody, which led to arguments during their relationship.

"The claimant is very distressed that he can now never apologise to Ms Goody for the times that he did not believe her despite her denials that she was the source of particular private information in the public domain."

Actor Christopher Eccleston received a public apology, "substantial" damages and his legal costs.

David Sherborne, representing the star, told the judge that the star was "repeatedly targeted" by News Group Newspapers (NGN) in 2005 and 2006 "not only because of his successful acting career, but also because his private life was apparently of significant interest to the News of the World".

He said Mr Eccleston was a "private individual who has always taken care to keep his personal life out of the press".

The News of the World "targeted" him as "part of their unlawful activities, to obtain private information belonging to him, and then sought to publish articles about his personal relationships and private life".

Counsel told the court: "The claimant was deeply angry and upset to discover that, owing to the deliberate destruction of documents by the News of the World, he will never find out the true extent to which his privacy, and that of those close to him, was invaded."

He said NGN now accepted responsibility for its unlawful actions and agreed to apologise to the actor.

Statements of behalf of 17 people who have settled their claims were read out before Mr Justice Vos today as part of actions brought against News Group Newspapers, publishers of the now defunct News of the World newspaper.

They include singer James Blunt, former Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston, entertainer Uri Geller - who was present in court - actor Hugh Grant, former Labour Government minister Geoffrey Robinson and Colin Stagg, who was wrongly accused of murdering Rachel Nickell.

Other statements being read out today are on behalf of TV presenter Jeff Brazier, actress and singer Kerry Katona, presenter June Sarpong and anthropologist and adventurer Christopher Terrill.

The Duchess of York has settled her phone hacking damages claim with News Group Newspapers at the High Court. She received a public apology and damages.