Correspondent at ITV News. Specialise in Health. Also a new documentary about unlawful invasions of privacy. Tabloids On Trial, ITV1 & ITVX, 9pm Thurs 25th July
📺 You can watch our documentary Tabloids on Trial on itvX
Prince Harry, Hugh Grant, Charlotte Church, Paul Gascoigne and others reveal the long-lasting impact of unlawful tabloid tactics.
Prince Harry questioned about revelations of his drug taking when he was a teenager.
MGN barrister puts to him that it was a matter of public interest, Prince Harry replies “there’s a difference between public interest - and what interests the public”
BREAKING: Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost are all suing Associated Newspapers
#DailyMail
#MailonSunday
#Mailonline
accusing them of "abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy"
BREAKING: Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, is suing the Daily Mail for invasion of privacy. Also taking legal action are Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley
#DailyMail
Hugh Grant is sitting at back of courtroom listening - on the final day of this hearing.
He accuses The Sun of burglaries, bugging, landline tapping & phone-hacking.
The Duke of Sussex also accuses News Group Newspapers of unlawful information gathering
#HughGrant
#PrinceHarry
After 8 hours of questioning in the witness box Prince Harry’s barrister concluded by asking him what it had been like to go through this with “the world’s media is watching”.
After a very long pause, looking and sounding emotional Prince Harry simply replied “It’s a lot.”
Prince Harry told me one of the reasons he won’t bring his wife Meghan back to UK is because he fears a knife or acid attack - triggered by negative tabloid stories.
He was speaking in our documentary Tabloids on Trial. Catch up on ITVX.
EXCL: Prince Harry tells me his legal fight with tabloids was a “central piece” in the breakdown of his relationship with his family.
In our ITV1 documentary ,Tabloids on Trial, Harry says in a “public role these are the things that we should be doing for the greater good”.
Excited for you all to see this ITV documentary about phone hacking that we've been busy working on...
I interview Prince Harry - plus others who found themselves catapulted onto the tabloid front pages.
📺 Tabloids On Trial airs on ITV1 & ITVX at 9pm on Thursday July 25
Prince Harry arrives at the High Court to give evidence in his hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers.
The first time in 130 years a senior Royal has appeared in a court witness box.
And promises to be box office… I’m off to get my seat in court!
#PrinceHarry
#Hacking
Fiona Wightman, ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse, is now giving evidence.
Mirror Group Newspapers admits unlawful information gathering - including paying a private investigator to “blag” her private medical records during her cancer treatment. But deny she was phoned hacked.
EXCL: “When you’re vindicated, it proves you weren’t being paranoid”
Prince Harry tells me he experienced the same paranoia as his mother Princess Diana.
Our exclusive interview features in Tabloids on Trial on ITV1 at 9pm on Thursday
We also saw emails which reveal The Queen gave her “full authority” for Prince Harry to seek a resolution - because she knew about “the scale and effect of hacking and surveillance on Her family”
Here’s what we learnt on Day Two of Duke of Sussex v NGN hearing…
#PrinceHarry
was watching on a video-link from LA as more shocking details about alleged hacking and blagging at The Sun and News of The World were revealed in court documents.
“As a consequence of me bringing my Mirror Group claim, both myself and my wife have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan, who was the Editor of the Daily Mirror between 1995 and 2004…
Court is now hearing from American Private Investigator Danno Hanks who says he accessed databases illegitimately to obtain information and sell it to The Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror
Baroness Doreen Lawrence is here at the Royal Courts of Justice for the latest stage of her legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
She and others, including
#PrinceHarry
, accuse the newspaper group of unlawful information gathering
“The problem is that, over the last 15 to 20 years, there are now incredibly powerful media companies who masquerade as journalists and who have, quite literally, hijacked journalistic privileges for their own personal gain and agenda, It’s an unbelievably dangerous place.”
“I just want to say thank you for changing my life”. One teenager tells
@itvnews
how
#PrincePhilip
and the
@DofE
award scheme transformed her life. This is the Duke of Edinburgh’s incredible legacy...
BREAKING: Prince Harry was hacked by Mirror Group Newspapers.
Judge says 15 out of 33 articles were the result of hacking or other unlawful information gathering.
He’s awarded £140,600 in damages
Over the last 6 weeks of the Mirror Group hacking trial - we’ve heard from Royalty, soap-stars, private investigators…
But today the judge questioned whether a number of MGN journalists - including former Daily Mirror Editor Piers Morgan - "could and should have given evidence"
“I am bringing this claim, not because I hate the tabloid press or even necessarily a section of it, but in order to properly hold the people who have hijacked those privileges, which come with being a member of the press, to account for their actions.”
Hugh Grant: “The fact… that these Unlawful Acts included targeted burglaries is truly appalling. The Defendant clearly considers itself above the law and is using the law now in a way I believe it was never intended, that is to further cover-up and conceal what it has done.”
“…and then having given her a “nightmare time” three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick and even more determined to hold those responsible, including Mr Morgan, accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behaviour.”
I’m in court for the final week of the Mirror Group Newspapers phone hacking trial.
Barristers are making their closing submissions, the judge will give his ruling later in the year.
#PrinceHarry
#Hacking
#Mirror
Court papers also name Piers Morgan - who was editor of the News of the World in 1994 - as being among those “knew about, encouraged and concealed unlawful activity.“
Prince Harry says decision to “reluctantly” step back from Royal role was in large part “due to the constant intrusion, inciting of hatred & harassment by the tabloid press into every aspect of our private lives, which had a devastating impact on our mental health and wellbeing”
Piers Morgan, former editor of the Mirror, is named repeatedly in court papers - as being among those who authorised the “systemic and widespread” use of Private Investigators to unlawfully obtain people’s private information.
Day 4 of
#PrinceHarry
v Mirror Group Newspapers.
We’re hearing evidence from Dan Evans, former Sunday Mirror journalist. He was previously convicted of phone hacking at News of the World.
…presumably in retaliation and in the hope that I will back down, before being able to hold him properly accountable for his unlawful activity towards both me and my mother during his editorship.”
Next up: Omid Scobie, co-author of Finding Freedom, a book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
He also did work experience at the Sunday People and Daily Mirror and says he saw evidence of phone hacking
#PrinceHarry
#MeghanMarkle
Prince Harry told me his determination to fight the tabloids caused part of the rift with his family.
You can hear more from him and many others in our ITV1 documentary Tabloids on Trial tomorrow 9pm.
Here's how we covered the story on tonight's news...
Sitting in a packed courtroom as barristers are about to begin opening speeches dealing with
#PrinceHarry
case against Mirror Group Newspapers.
The publisher is accused of “widespread and habitual” phone hacking and blagging causing him “huge bouts of depression and paranoia”
EXCL: “Paranoia, fear, distrust”: Prince Harry on the impact of hacking.
In our ITV1 documentary, Tabloids on Trial, he speaks for the first time about his High Court win against Mirror Group Newspapers.
Telling me the ruling was a “monumental victory”.
“She’s very much up there, going ‘see this through to the end’”
Prince Harry told our documentary, Tabloids on Trial, the late Queen supports him in his “mission” against the tabloids.
Catch up on ITVX
I’ll be at the High Court this morning as we find out whether
#PrinceHarry
has won his claim against the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.
He accuses Mirror Group Newspapers of phone hacking, “blagging” and the illegal use of private investigators.
The Duke of Sussex has arrived at the High Court for his second day of giving evidence.
He’s suing Mirror Group Newspapers accusing them of unlawful information gathering.
#PrinceHarry
#Hacking
The allegations:
Hired private investigators bug homes & cars
Paid people to listen & record phone calls
Used corrupt police officers to get sensitive information
Impersonated people to obtain medical records
Used 'illicit means' to access bank accounts
Back at the High Court for another explosive Prince Harry court case against the tabloids - this time it’s The Sun and the News of the World
#PrinceHarry
#RoyalFamily
“It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a ‘damaged’ young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile.”
Hugh Grant tells me he's "determined to exact justice" on those in the tabloids he believes commissioned unlawful invasions of his privacy.
In our ITV1 documentary, Tabloids On Trial, he speaks for the first time about a settlement with The Sun, which denies his allegations.
Prince Harry attempts to lighten to mood by quipping “you’ve got me doing a work-out” as the defence barrister repeatedly asks him to pull out the huge bundles of documents involved in this complicated case.
The court was reminded of these images of 12 year old Prince Harry at his mother’s funeral…
His barrister said for more than 15 years he was “subjected to the most intrusive methods” to obtain his personal info - “blatantly unlawful” methods that were “quite frankly appalling”
The father of Madeleine McCann has told ITV News the govt must have “the courage and integrity” to deliver on its promise for a public inquiry into the British press.
In response to ITV1 documentary, Tabloids on Trial, Gerry McCann called on Labour to proceed with Leveson Part 2
From Coronation to Courtroom…
Prince Harry is not here at the Royal Courts of Justice today but he’s at the heart of this civil trial: a crucial flank of his crusade against British tabloids
Today’s target: MGN - publisher of Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror & Sunday People
The new Prince and Princess of Wales have just visited Sandringham, where they used spend Christmas with his beloved “grannie”.
The main entrance to the estate has become a memorial for the late Queen, the ground covered in a thick carpet of flowers.
Previously the judge questioned the absence of 29 key witnesses, including for Mirror editor Piers Morgan.
Today David Sherborne said it was “Not so much Hamlet without the Prince - but Hamlet without the entire Royal court of Denmark!”
“…when The Sun and another tabloid had unlawfully obtained and published details of an intimate telephone conversation that took place between my father and step-mother in 1989, while he was still married to my mother.”
Lawyers for the group - including the Duke of Sussex and Baroness Doreen Lawrence - claim the publisher of the Daily Mail commissioned the “breaking and entry into private property”, illegally intercepted voicemail messages and obtained medical records
I’ve never heard a barrister have to explain to the court the protocol on how to address a witness… “Your Royal Highness” in the first instance, then “Prince Harry”
Court 76 is packed with journalists as Prince Harry sits near the back with his lawyers. Usually at a preliminary hearing like this it’d just be a few court reporters taking shorthand, as lawyers argue in legalese. But the presence of the Duke of Sussex certainly adds some drama.
I understand several other high-profile people are now also planning to bring claims against Associated Newspapers.
Today Heather Mills told me
@itvnews
that she’s considering legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
In the past she was hacked by other newspapers.
We’re entering the final stage of the Mirror Group Newspaper hacking trial.
#PrinceHarry
became the first Royal in living memory to be cross-examined in court - as he attempts to expose alleged criminality of the tabloids.
Here are a few highlights from the last few weeks…
In the past Danno Hanks has said he illegally accessed private information about the Duchess of Sussex or
#MeghanMarkle
(as she was then) including her Social Security Number for rival tabloid The Sun
Dan Evans says “Sometimes stories would come from a legitimate source... We would often "stand up" or develop the story by looking to hack the phones of the individuals involved, or their friends, so that we could verify the truth of the information given to us by the source.”
In response to our documentary the father of Madeleine McCann urged the government to have “the courage and integrity” to deliver on its promise for a public inquiry into the British press.
Here’s how we covered the story on last night’s News at Ten…
In a few minutes we’ll find out whether Prince Harry, Sir Elton John & Baroness Doreen Lawrence can continue their High Court cases against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Allegations include phone tapping, blagging, bugging people’s homes and cars and burglary to order
News Group Newspapers are trying to get this case dismissed, saying it’s been brought too late.
Lawyers for
#PrinceHarry
say in the past he was “kept out of the loop” about the hacking scandal.
A judge will decide if it goes to trial.
Day 6 of Prince Harry v MGN
We’re hearing from Derek Haslam a former undercover police informer who infiltrated Jonathan Rees’s firm Southern Investigations to gather intelligence about the murder of Daniel Morgan.
She writes “What the Defendant did to me was cruel & intrusive. I don’t really know how they live with themselves or how they sleep at night. The idea that someone else’s tragedy, struggle or marriage breakdown is fodder for newspapers is horrendous. Where is their empathy?”
Today one of Britain’s best known comedians
@JohnCleese
came to the High Court - here as a spectator not a participant.
He’s a past victim of phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers and wants to watch some of the case being brought by
#PrinceHarry
In his witness statement
#PrinceHarry
makes several references to his late mother
#PrincessDiana
“There are even eight private investigator payments made in relation to my mother, which I have only learnt of since bringing my claim. This makes me feel physically sick.”
Prince Harry writes in his witness statement “How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness.”
He explains the comment was directed more broadly at the tabloid press rather than specific Mirror Group Newspaper journalists.
Omid Scobie says as a journalism student he spent a week at the showbiz desk of the Sunday People.
He claims he was given a list of mobile telephone numbers and a verbal description of how to listen to voicemails, as if it were a routine newsgathering technique
Fiona Wightman, ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse, is scathing of Mirror titles for illegally getting her medical records when she had cancer.
“I became withdrawn & mistrustful of people around me. I will never forgive the Defendant... It is indefensible.”
Prince Harry claims his own private information about his “education, his health and welfare” - would’ve been accessed as a result
#hacking
#RoyalFamily
“My husband had an affair. It sounds like a tragedy. I am not a tragedy, but I was dealing with such incredibly difficult, painful things. For someone to have listened to my messages and thought “there is a great story here” is just awful.“
Fiona Wightman says in her witness statement “I began to get door stepped by journalists and asked to talk about my cancer. I was really shocked as I considered it private and didn't at any point give my story to the press.”
"We weren't celebrities. This wasn't salacious gossip. We were just normal people”
Paul Dadge who helped victims in the 7/7 London bombings was hacked by the News of the World. In 2011 NGN paid a settlement and expressed regret for the distress caused.
@itvnews
“I will be making a claim”
Heather Mills
@heatherofficial
told me she’s planning legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
“We’re really proud of people like Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and Sadie Frost for being brave enough to go forward with these claims.”
Comedian Paul Whitehouse has given a statement in support of his ex-wife:
“It is called a private life for a reason - it is axiomatic.
“MGN’s journalists overstepped the mark... It makes us both feel very angry.”
#Hacking
#PrinceHarry
“To think it is acceptable to look at a woman’s gynecological cancer and try to find a way to make it public is utterly beyond the pale. I had lots of people doorstepping me asking me if I was okay and if I wanted to talk to them about my cancer.”
Prince Harry’s witness statement is 55 pages long. He writes…
“What I complain of here is illegal or unlawful, and that is something which I feel incredibly strongly about.”
Prince Harry’s barrister David Sherborne says the fact lawyers for Mirror Group Newspapers only called 3 journalists to give evidence during the 7 week trial - “leaves fatal holes” in their case
Associated Newspapers had tried to get the claims struck-out arguing they’d been brought too late.
But today a High Court judge ruled the publisher had “failed to deliver a ‘knockout blow’ to any of the claims brought by the Claimants”
“It was deeply shocking to see the invoices & finally understand who it had been that had called my doctor’s secretary, it’s completely inhumane. I was still feeling upset & anxious, having a cancer diagnosis & two little kids. I was obviously fragile. How could they do that?”
He says in 2002 he did work experience on the Daily Mirror’s 3AM column.
He says he witnessed the Editor, Piers Morgan, being told that a story about Kylie Minogue and her boyfriend James Gooding. had come from voicemails.
MGN later agreed to publish an apology to Prince Michael and pay his legal costs. It’s claimed Piers Morgan and lawyers knew private financial information had been unlawfully obtained by a PI and therefore had to settle - as couldn’t rely on or reveal ‘source’ of information
Court papers claim senior NGN executives deliberately concealed wrongdoing - lying to the court, the Met Police, Leveson Inquiry, MPs and the public, destroying millions of incriminating emails and paying ‘hush money’ to former employees to avoid them revealing the truth