Daily Mail Accusers Induced to Sue on Basis of Disowned Claims, Court Told
Public figures, including Doreen Lawrence and Elton John, were allegedly "induced" to sue the Daily Mail's publisher based on a private investigator's now-disowned claims of illegal activity, the high court has heard. Lawyers for Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) argued that the disputed testimony was used to recruit prominent individuals to the case.
Allegations and Denials in High-Profile Trial
Seven people, such as Prince Harry, Elton John's partner David Furnish, and actor Liz Hurley, have accused ANL of using unlawful information gathering for stories. ANL denies all claims. The most serious allegations stemmed from private investigator Gavin Burrows, who later stated that a witness statement containing claims of phone hacking, tapping, and bugging was forged.
In written closing submissions for the 10-week trial, ANL's legal team contended that Burrows' statement and other disputed claims were leveraged to attract high-profile claimants. Antony White, lead barrister for the publisher, asserted that some claimants were persuaded to join based on what they believed were truthful allegations from Burrows, which have since been retracted.
Impact on Key Claimants
White described it as a "particular tragedy" that Doreen Lawrence, 73, was persuaded to join the case, given the Daily Mail's historical campaign for justice for her son Stephen, murdered in a racist attack in 1993. He suggested she was viewed as a "trophy claimant" by the claimants' legal team, recruited on evidence that lacked substance and was not even presented in court.
Burrows previously testified that Lawrence had been "conned" by researchers working for the claimants' legal team. In response, David Sherborne, lead barrister for the claimants, dismissed Burrows' forgery claims as "hopeless" and "frankly risible," arguing that Burrows was merely the original whistleblower and that there is substantial evidence of ANL using other private investigators for unlawful activities.
Broader Context and Defense
White linked the claims to a political campaign by the group Hacked Off, aimed at showing ANL misled the Leveson inquiry into press practices. He noted that ANL executives had previously stated there was no hacking and that private investigator use ceased in 2007. White argued that researchers targeted "national treasures" to generate publicity with "headline-grabbing allegations" of tapping, bugging, and hacking.
He emphasized that ANL's defense has led to the most serious allegations being struck out or abandoned, with no supporting documents for Burrows' confessions. White maintained that ANL either did not use private investigators for the cited articles or used them legally for tasks like obtaining contact information, with current and former Mail journalists testifying to legitimate sourcing practices.
Ongoing Legal Focus
The claimants' legal team has also highlighted alleged "blagging," including detailed medical information about actor Sadie Frost and flight details for one of Prince Harry's former girlfriends. The case continues, with both sides presenting their arguments in this high-stakes legal battle over press ethics and information gathering practices.
