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News Group Newspapers offers apology and substantial damages to Lord Watson and the Duke of Sussex

News Group Newspapers offers apology and substantial damages to Lord Watson and the Duke of Sussex

Lord Watson has won a landmark unlawful information gathering claim against News Group Newspapers Limited (NGN). In “an historic admission of guilt”, NGN has admitted, for the first time, unlawful activities were carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.

Following the dramatic adjournment of the first day of the trial of Lord Watson’s and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex’s claims against NGN, the Court today heard that both claims have settled.

NGN’s public apology stated:

“NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.

NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World.

NGN further apologises to the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, in particular during his younger years. We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the Duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages. It is also acknowledged, without any admission of illegality, that NGN's response to the 2006 arrests and subsequent actions were regrettable.

NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to Lord Watson for the unwarranted intrusion carried out into his private life during his time in Government by the News of the World during the period 2009- 2011. This includes him being placed under surveillance in 2009 by journalists at the News of the World and those instructed by them. NGN also acknowledges and apologises for the adverse impact this had on Lord Watson's family and has agreed to pay him substantial damages.

In addition, in 2011 News International received information that information was being passed covertly to Lord Watson from within News International. We now understand that this information was false, and Lord Watson was not in receipt of any such confidential information.  NGN apologises fully and unequivocally for this.”

Statement on behalf of the Duke of Sussex and Lord Watson

In a statement read on behalf of the Duke of Sussex and Lord Watson, David Sherborne said:

“In a monumental victory today, News UK have admitted that The Sun, the flagship title for Rupert Murdoch’s UK media empire, has indeed engaged in illegal practices. This represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling, without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them.

After endless resistance, denials and legal battles by News Group Newspapers, including spending more than a billion pounds in payouts and in legal costs (as well as paying-off those in the know) to prevent the full picture from coming out, News UK is finally held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law. It has also specifically admitted wrongdoing against Tom Watson, and admitted unlawful acts by The Sun, as well as by the News of the World, against Prince Harry.

Read full statement on behalf of the Duke of Sussex and Lord Watson here.

Lord Watson’s (Hamlins client) statement:

“Like every other person persecuted by News Group Newspapers, I wish they had left my family alone. But what happened, happened. Today, I’m glad they have finally accepted responsibility. I’m glad they have apologised and acknowledged the direct harm caused by years of unlawful surveillance by their journalists and their army of private investigators—not just to my family but to Prince Harry and his.

As the formidable Mr Sherborne, my diligent solicitor Ellen Gallagher, and her impressive team of lawyers at Hamlins, have shown—in over 1,300 cases—these unlawful practices were not isolated incidents. They were industrial in scale and central to the modus operandi of News Group Newspapers as a whole.

I once said that the big beasts of the tabloid jungle have no predators. I was wrong. They have Prince Harry. His bravery and astonishing courage have brought accountability to a part of the media world that thought it was untouchable. I am sure I speak on behalf of thousands of victims when I say we are grateful to him for his unwavering support and his determination under extraordinary pressure.

If Rupert Murdoch has any decency, he should follow this corporate admission of guilt with a personal apology—to Prince Harry, to his father, our King, and to the countless others who suffered the same unlawful behaviour at the hands of his media empire.

NGN owes so many such apologies.

Thousands of ordinary people—just trying to live their lives—have endured the same unlawful behaviour. Many were victims of heinous crimes, including victims of terrorism, grieving families, and people caught in personal tragedies. I’ll never get over some of the stories I’ve heard.

I owe some apologies too. This saga has placed an unforgivable strain on people in my life—from my former wife Siobhan, mother to my beautiful children, to my wider family and friends. I am sorry that Rebekah Brooks decided you were just collateral damage in their corporate war on the elected representatives who sought their accountability.

This fight has made me reflect on what it means ‘to settle.’ Legally, it’s a technical term. Emotionally, it’s much deeper. I wish I could bring justice for everyone NGN has ruined and bullied. But I can’t. Our system remains stacked against victims and in favour of the powerful.

What does this case mean, and why is it so important? As the United Kingdom continues to witness tragic crimes and terrible atrocities, at least we know that because of the work of my solicitor Ellen Gallagher and lawyers like her, victims and their loved ones are unlikely to have their phones hacked or their medical records stolen by tabloid newspapers, as routinely used to happen.

At the heart of this case and all the 1,300 others is the important principle that no one is above the law. And in this sense, today’s result represents a challenge to the criminal justice system.

I finish with two questions.

To Sir Mark Rowley: when you receive our dossier exposing wrongdoing, will the Metropolitan Police act?

To the Prime Minister: I know you care deeply about fairness and the law, but are we really willing to continue as a country where some corporate executives are above the law and out of reach of our police?

Thank you.”

 

Lord Watson's team at Hamlins comprised Ellen Gallagher, Callum Galbraith, Natalie Powers and Mollie Jackson.

Hamlins are also the Lead Solicitors with conduct of the “generic case” against NGN and the management of the Claimant side of the litigation. The Lead Solicitor team at Hamlins comprised Callum Galbraith, Ellen Gallagher, Natalie Powers and Mollie Jackson.

The Counsel team comprised David Sherborne, Julian Santos and Ben Hamer of 5RB.

The claims were pursued with the support of Temple Legal Protection.

The legal team were supported by Dr Evan Harris and Dan Waddell.