Private Investigator Denies Confessions in Prince Harry's Daily Mail Lawsuit
Gavin Burrows, a private investigator whose disputed confessions are central to a high-profile case against the Daily Mail's publisher, has testified that the admissions were "a thing of fiction." Giving evidence from a secret location overseas, Burrows told the high court that Prince Harry and other claimants had been "very misled" over his work, describing the supposed admissions in his name as "a pack of lies."
Forgery Allegations and Hostile Witness Status
Burrows claimed his signature had been traced onto a witness statement from August 2021, which outlined extensive alleged wrongdoing, including phone tapping and bugging on behalf of Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). "I did not write the statement, I don't recognise anything in the statement," Burrows said. "You can tell that that is not even a proper signature. I can tell that it was faked and traced."
As a result of these forgery claims, David Sherborne, the lead barrister for the claimants, successfully requested to question Burrows as a hostile witness. The claimants' legal team has argued in written submissions that it is impossible for the signature to be forged, calling the claim "wild and unsubstantiated."
Background of the Case and Key Allegations
The case involves seven individuals, including Prince Harry, Elton John, and Doreen Lawrence, who are suing ANL over alleged unlawful information gathering. The court has previously heard claims that Burrows bugged celebrities' windowsills and hacked information from those close to them, such as John's gardener. Prince Harry also alleged Burrows tapped and hacked a friend's phone.
ANL strongly denies all allegations, describing them as lurid and preposterous. Burrows now asserts he never conducted any unlawful activity for the publisher or was asked to do so, standing by a later statement that contradicts the original confession.
Claims of Deception and Financial Disputes
Burrows alleged the disputed confession was orchestrated by Graham Johnson, a former phone hacker who later joined the claimants' research team. He said he only worked with Johnson because he thought he was being used for his "expert opinion," and the court has heard he was paid £75,000 by Johnson, including for work on a memoir.
"Your little creator of this has gone too far," Burrows told Sherborne, referring to Johnson. "I believe he's conned you, Mr Sherborne." He added that the confession contained a litany of admissions that included everything "apart from calling me Jack the Ripper," questioning its credibility.
Escalation and Broader Implications
Burrows said he contacted ANL in 2023 to clarify he never made the confession, thinking he was being "nice and kind" to Lady Lawrence. "I thought I was saving Baroness Lawrence from being conned. Things escalated, I guess," he remarked. He also questioned the validity of his signatures on other documents in cases related to unlawful activities by newspapers.
At one point, Burrows admitted he had been "taking the piss" out of Johnson in conversations, claiming the researcher entered their "banter" into evidence. Sherborne suggested Burrows switched sides out of revenge against Johnson over money in 2022, an assertion Burrows denied.
Ongoing Legal Battle and Financial Aspects
The "Burrows conundrum" has loomed over the three-month, multimillion-pound case. Sherborne argued the 2021 witness statement was "entirely consistent and true that you acted for Associated Newspapers," but Burrows refuted this. Additionally, Sherborne noted Burrows had legal funding from ANL, though Burrows said he did not receive money directly.
The case continues, with high stakes for all parties involved, as it delves into allegations of media misconduct and the credibility of key evidence in a landmark legal dispute.
