Natalie Cecil receives phone hacking apology and substantial damages from NGN
Natalie Cecil, who was married to the well-known British horse racing trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, has received a public apology from News Group Newspapers Limited (“NGN”), the publisher of The Sun and the (now defunct) News of the World, at a hearing before Mr Justice Fancourt on December 8th, 2021.
In addition to the public apology, our client has accepted a substantial damages payment for the very serious and persistent intrusions into her private life, non-repeat undertakings and payment of her legal costs.
Natalie Cecil, who was heavily targeted by NGN over a period of several years, said:
“The unsolicited intrusions into my private life through phone hacking and other unlawful activities caused me immeasurable distress and had an enormous impact on my personal relationships. I am hugely grateful to have worked with Alex Cochrane and Isabelle Sands, as well as the wider team at Hamlins, as they know how to conduct themselves with somebody who has had a horrific time with the tabloid press – and they know how to win! I am very pleased to have received such a good outcome which will certainly help to put all this behind me”.
Partner Alex Cochrane said:
“Natalie is a very private individual and as a result of her high-profile marriage to Sir Henry she was thrust into the public spotlight at a young age. The manner in which her private life was invaded by NGN journalists, and individuals operating at their behest, as well as the nature of those invasions, was extremely serious. She fully deserves this public apology and it has been a real pleasure fighting her corner with her. I am delighted we have held NGN to account for their unlawful actions and achieved such a successful outcome for our client.”
Natalie Cecil’s legal team comprised Alex Cochrane (Partner) and Isabelle Sands (Senior Paralegal) of Hamlins LLP, who instructed David Sherborne of 5RB.
Hamlins continues to act for a large number of individuals in the phone hacking litigation against NGN and also MGN and to fight in the civil courts to expose the full extent of unlawful information gathering activity by the newspapers and seek appropriate redress for the misuse of their private information.
