Extensive Phone Hacking by MGN

[Roussette]

So... Harry has won his case.

As lawyers are saying now... this is massive. 15 out of 33 accusations of hacking by Harry were upheld as a result of phone hacking and other illegal practices.
Hacking and blagging were even taking place during the Leveson enquiry.

He has won damages of £140,000 plus. And before this thread descends into Harry hate, please think of all the other claimants who have also had their claims upheld and damages awarded to them. They went through hell, medical records hacked and reported on, trackers on cars, phones hacked...

It's not about the money, it's about 'accountability of power'.

'too think the press has behaved appallingly - and not just to Harry. But Harry has now made reining in the press his life's crusade. Bearing in mind his own flexible relationship with "his" truth as opposed to "the truth", his supposed desire for privacy and his at times fragile mental health, I do not think this crusade is going to make him happy.'

Yes it is perfectly possible to agree that the mgn have behaved appallingly if they did hack phones as this fancourt has decided but it is equally possible to say Harry has behaved appallingly too in so many other ways. This one victory does not make him the hero some are so very excited about. 'King Harry' on twitter, it's just ridiculous isn't it.

Can't feel sorry for Morgan, ugh all his hysterical telly presenting in the covid days scaremongering and sneering at every minister who ever went on his show demonstrated his poor social and presenting skills so God knows what he was like as an editor.

To be accurate, setting out of court generally costs the payers considerably less.

The fact he refused the settlement offer made a few months ago actually proves it wasn't about money. He got a portion of what he asked because he won on 15 of 33 claims. He does have 114 other claims, that may now proceed. So costs and damages may not be handed over and decided on till that is discussed in January I think it is.

I'm just wondering if he actually gets any of what he asked. If he lost on the majority of his claims, does that mean that he has to pay some of the Mirror's costs? And if they offered more than he has now received, there is a mechanism whereby they could claim all the costs incurred from the date of their offer. I haven't seen anything about costs, and it may be that that is going to be a separate argument, but I suspect he may come out with little or nothing.

i find it interesting that PW did his in secret. I suppose he can use the excuse that the RF is not supposed to get involved in politics.
well done Harry for having the bottle to fight this publicly.

I also think the effects of this case will eventually prove to be a fizzle rather than a bang.

We still have the Daily Mail case - this has Elton and Baroness Lawrence as well. If that one is successful then there will be impetus for probable police action and prosecution.

Leveson 1 already happened. I don’t think this will help the “real” victims and if they thought it might they should have pursued their cases first.

I’m taken aback by your misunderstanding of just why and how “real” victims cannot and have not been able to pursue cases (see Sienna Miller) and why someone with deep pockets who is not a “real” victim can. Matt Hancock (when he was culture secretary) abandoned Leveson 2, which was intended to examine relationships between journalists and the police. We really need an accountable press just as much as we need an accountable state and currently the system we have is not working.

Yes thats what the judge awarded him, taking the failed claims into account. The offer was made after trial, just. a few months ago, so it would not affect the costs of the trial, the bulk of the costs. In addition, remember this was a test case for I think just over 100 claimants, and Harry himself had ver 100 claims alone. The lawyers and judges decided on which test cases would go forward, and which test claims. The hearing about the others is in January, but MGN may offer to settle and admit all claims to save money? Harry won't accept settlements without them publicly admitting what they did. he has other claims he can now choose to bring.

I see there are now 5 threads on Omid Scobie’s Endgame . I haven’t read them but I’m assuming that it has been noted that the Judge described Scobie , who was a witness. , as ‘straightforward and reliable ‘

@Novella4 those threads are barely about endgame! Just another chance to bash H & M, whilst ignoring this huge win for Harry. There were so many commenting during the trial that haven;t turned up to discuss the outcome yet.

I think I said in the media threads but the settlement made me really understand the horrible decisions that the RF have to make to appease the press.

Overall I think PH was the wrong candidate

Are you joking? He was hacked. Proven. He chose to hold the media who did that to account. He wasn't a 'wrong candidate', he didn't choose to be hacked did he? You're making it sound like it was a job he applied for!

There’s something distasteful about the middle classes and royalty like PH using this scandal to sneer and scoff at them.

I'm sorry but WTAF did you get this from? . It is very very weird that you draw this from the case and the outcome. I would've thought quite the opposite

Yes that was odd wasn't it? Doesn't he read the papers, hadn't he heard about Finding Freedom and the did they/didn't they collude debacle? < twas misremembered M'lud >

I suspect he may come out with little or nothing.

I imagine he got exactly the payday he wanted yesterday. Making the media accountable and a very public win on his case. It was never about the money, if it was he would've taken their offer from weeks ago.

No, sorry attempts to twist that story into 'collusion' won't work here. No judge said any such thing! But this thread is about MGN, so lets keep it on track... @Janiie are you hoping there will be a criminal investigation now a judge has concluded there was extensive hacking at MGN that senior executives knew about, and previously lied about?

Theres a huge section in the judgement on damages and how they worked it out based on other cases, that both legal teams were fully aware of and was the basis for Harry's damages claim in the beginning. Same for Michael Le Vell.

Of course not! He won! How could they

As far as no.5 Omid. The threads are nothing to do with the book, they might've been in the beginning, but now they are just a vehicle to regurgitate everything since 2017 about H&M.

No I'm happy for damages to be paid. I think a criminal investigation would be a waste of time and money tbh. But I'm not a Mrs Justice so I'm not sure how these things work and who decides, will it be King Harry who pushes to get Morgan in the tower or what?

There are thinly disguised H&M bashing threads. I read and still read them - it’s fascinating how much, regardless of many of them not having read the book, there are convinced that the book is an attack on the RF. And that attack has been directed by and or written by Meghan.

There hasn’t been much reflection over the past 24 hours about how it cannot have escaped them how overwhelmingly negative the press about Omid has been in the run up to this judgement- with many calling him a fantasist and a liar (and mocking his appearance) in an attempt to discredit him and his testimony and how the judge has deemed his actions (in this case) credible. And how perhaps they may be more susceptible to media manipulation than they be willing to accept.

Why do you think a criminal investigation into widespread, 'extensive' criminal activity would be a waste of time? Do you think the police would cover up the truth? A judge has already said it happened. It's this sort of covid case that can lead to a criminal investigation. Some of these execs lied to Leveson, and continued hacking during the inquiry!

Sometimes Janiie you just don't read the room.

perhaps they may be more susceptible to media manipulation than they be willing to accept.

I think this is a hard pill for some to swallow, yes.

If you are interested on the reason it may be because some people can’t be bothered to comment to be insulted

regards
“Cloth Ears”

As I've just said I'm happy to be informed who decides if criminal charges are brought here, I'm all ears. Who brings the charges?

In my opinion it would be a waste of time amd money to investigate phone hacking further yes. This judge reached a decision it happened and damages will be paid.

Yes, one comment from a judge can’t erase a mound of evidence to the contrary.

Exactly the reason I haven't contributed to the 5,000 posts on Omid. (apart from one post) My life would be made hell. It isn't toxic on this thread

Anyway, back to the thread...

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - London's police said they will "carefully consider" the findings of a court ruling that found Prince Harry had been a victim of phone hacking and other unlawful acts by Mirror Group journalists with the knowledge of their editors.

This is not going to go away

He's reliable and 'straightforward'. Gavel!