In a dramatic day at the High Court, actress and model Liz Hurley delivered powerful testimony in a landmark privacy case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, firmly rejecting suggestions of "leaks" among her social circle while alleging systematic surveillance of her private life.
Emotional Courtroom Testimony
Hurley spent approximately three hours in the witness box, becoming visibly emotional on multiple occasions as she detailed the impact of articles published about her between 2002 and 2011. Supported by her son, Damian, and fellow claimant Prince Harry, who had given his own evidence the previous day, the 60-year-old actress wiped away tears but insisted on continuing without breaks.
"I felt really mortified that my son would be able to read all this stuff one day," Hurley told the court, her voice trembling. "I feel really bad that that day is today when all this stuff is being regurgitated again. Yet again, everyone's privacy is being invaded in this terrible way, and I feel very helpless about that."
Allegations of Systematic Surveillance
In her written witness statement, Hurley made startling allegations against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), claiming the Daily Mail had engaged in "tapping my phones and recording my live telephone conversations, placing surreptitious mics on my home windows" along with what she described as "other monstrous, staggering things."
During cross-examination by Antony White KC, representing ANL, Hurley pushed back strongly against suggestions that information had come from friends within her circle. "Yes, there were leaks, but they were not from my friends," she asserted. "I believe that is because people were listening to me speak."
She elaborated further, telling the court there were "microphones on the windowsill of my dining room" and that both her rooms and landlines had been "bugged," describing the alleged phone tapping as a "brutal invasion of privacy" that left her feeling "crushed."
Defence Arguments and Counterclaims
Associated Newspapers has strenuously denied all allegations of wrongdoing, with Mr White describing the claims as "threadbare" during his opening statement earlier in the week. The defence maintains that ANL journalists followed legitimate sourcing practices for the articles in question and argues that the legal action has been brought too late.
In written submissions, Mr White stated that allegations of unlawful information gathering against ANL, "including of phone hacking and phone tapping, in connection with Ms Hurley or her 10 named associates," were "unsupported by the evidence before the court" and "entirely baseless."
Additional Courtroom Exchanges
Hurley was also questioned about her relationship with ex-boyfriend Hugh Grant and her involvement with Hacked Off, the press reform campaign group. The actress confirmed she had donated £350,000 in damages from a previous settlement with Mirror Group Newspapers to the organisation but insisted she was not actively involved with their campaigning efforts.
When asked by her own barrister, David Sherborne, how she felt about having to appear in court due to ANL's denial of the claims, Hurley responded: "I don't really want to be here, didn't want to come. I find it intimidating. I find it quite traumatic. I don't really like talking about things that happened to me in the past."
Trial Context and Proceedings
The case forms part of a broader legal action involving seven claimants, including Prince Harry and Sir Elton John, who are suing ANL over allegations of unlawful information gathering. The trial is expected to last approximately nine weeks, with further witnesses for the claimants scheduled to give evidence next week before ANL presents its own witnesses later in the proceedings.
As the courtroom drama unfolded, Prince Harry offered a brief comment to Sky News outside the court, smiling and responding "Great, thank you" when asked how he was feeling. The case continues with a final decision anticipated at a later date following the completion of all evidence.
