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PRINCE HARRY HAS arrived at the High Court in London for a hearing in his claim against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers over allegations of unlawful information-gathering.
The publisher is bringing a bid to end High Court claims brought by people including Harry, Elton John and Doreen Lawrence over alleged unlawful activity at its titles.
The group of high-profile individuals, also including Elton’s husband David Furnish and actresses Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost, announced in October they were bringing claims for misuse of private information against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
Their lawyers said at that time the group have “become aware of compelling and highly distressing evidence that they have been the victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy” by ANL, which is also the publisher of The Mail On Sunday and MailOnline.
BREAKING: Prince Harry has arrived at the High Court ahead of a court case against The Daily Mail newspaperhttps://t.co/AQ6e97MgAq
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 27, 2023
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/d7XRXddufl
In a statement announcing the launch of the legal action, released by Hamlins law firm, it was alleged the unlawful acts included hiring private investigators to secretly place listening devices inside cars and homes and the recording of private phone conversations.
The publisher hit back at the allegations, describing them at the time as “preposterous smears” and a “pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal”.
A spokesperson for ANL also said the allegations were “unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims, based on no credible evidence”.
A four-day preliminary hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London began on Monday and is set to include ANL’s bid for the claims to be dismissed without a trial.
Prince Harry sat towards the back of the courtroom, occasionally taking notes in a small black notebook.
Monday’s appearance is believed to be the first time Harry has been back in the UK since the late Queen’s funeral in September.
His surprise return comes nearly three months after he laid bare his troubled relationship with his father Charles and brother William in his controversial autobiography Spare.
David Sherborne, for the group of high-profile individuals, said the unlawful acts in the claim include commissioning the “breaking and entry into private property”, illegally intercepting voicemail messages, listening to live landline calls and obtaining medical records.
He said in written submissions: “The claimants each claim that in different ways they were the victim of numerous unlawful acts carried out by the defendant, or by those acting on the instructions of its newspapers, The Daily Mail and The Mail On Sunday.”
“They range through a period from 1993 to 2011, even continuing beyond until 2018,” the barrister added.
ANL’s lawyers have said privacy claims brought by seven high-profile individuals including Prince Harry and Baroness Lawrence should be dismissed without a trial.
Adrian Beltrami KC, in written submissions, argued the legal actions have been brought too late and are “stale”.
The barrister said the individuals have to prove they did not know earlier, or could not have discovered earlier, they might have had a claim against ANL for alleged misuse of their private information.
Mr Beltrami said that more than a decade after the Leveson Inquiry and several criminal and civil proceedings over phone hacking, “it would be surprising indeed for any reasonably informed member of the public, let alone a figure in the public eye, to have been unaware of these matters”.
He continued: “The claimants have failed to show that they have a real prospect of discharging their burden at trial and the court should not hesitate to dismiss these stale claims at an early stage, thereby avoiding what would otherwise be a considerable waste of time, costs and the court’s resources.”
The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to conclude on Thursday.
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The “AROUND THE WORLD ..WE WANT PRIVACY TOUR”
What do we want PRIVACY
When do we want it NOW
@GreenFlag: it’s disgraceful the lies the gutter press put out as stories regarding this couple and indeed other celebrities – well done Harry for standing up to them. !!
@GreenFlag: Its pravvacceyy
It would be funny now if he wasn’t allowed back into the USA.
His admission of drug taking was not on his Visa application for residency
They take that seriously over there..
We want privacy, we want privacy.
Stop looking at us.
@Russian Bot: Haha exactly, a walking talking contradiction is what he is
@Damien O’ Sullivan: just remember these are same gutter press that hacked a teenagers phone – Milly Dowler – after she was kidnapped and murdered – leading the police and parents to think she was still alive!!
@Russian Bot: thats all anyone will ever see now; Megan as an empty tin can with a lid for a head
@Barbara Coleman: 2 different scenarios there. The Milly Dowler case is an example of gutter press at it’s worst hence News of the World is no more, and people were held to account for their involvement in the unethical behaviour.
On the other hand he is making docuseries and doing podcasts for the exact same press while looking for privacy. If you don’t want attention (and the hassle that comes as a consequence) then don’t look for it!
Playing the victim afterwards through further documentaries isn’t helping his case. Can’t have it both ways
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