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'.

Theres no statute of limitations on prosecutions in the Uk is there?

I thought there was because some people in Harry's case were told their claims were out of time. Maybe that's the difference between civil and criminal cases?

Yes, 6 years for civil claims.

Don’t forget Rebekah Brooks was found not guilty.

He does seem to know people in the media who keep him out of the papers sometimes. I don't think those friends could affect the police though if there was a case to answer, the most they could do is not cover it.

If only.

Unfortunately some of the those media groups have gone an awful lot further than that.

A PP mentioned phone hacking as commercial espionage; it looks a lot like the Murdoch empire has used phone hacking and surveillance to search for kompromat to control the police and government ministers.

Never mind the Piers Morgan case, check out the Daniel Morgan case (no relation) and the surveillance of DCS David Cook.

https://bylinetimes.com/2020/06/29/the-daniel-morgan-murder-lead-detective-became-a-scapegoat-for-scotland-yard/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Daniel_Morgan#News_of_the_World_scandal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Daniel_Morgan#Independent_inquiry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Police_role_in_the_news_media_phone_hacking_scandal#Investigations_by_the_Metropolitan_Police

I didn't know that. I saw her referenced in an article and thought she hadn't been charged. Thanks for correcting me (and apologies to Rebekah).

Piers Morgan posted photos of his Christmas party on Instagram today. Lots of faces I recognised makes you wonder about the timing.

That Prospect article on the Murdoch empire's commercial espionage is an essential read. Thank you for linking it.

That's a chilling description of the amount of effort they put into targeting Chris Huhne MP "along with any other influential politicians who might come between them and their takeover".

Says it all about the rot, really.

But that was then, perhaps this is now.

Piers Morgan has, there is no doubt, plenty of protectors in high places. He obviously is Murdoch's lap-dog. But these high places include Buckingham Palace too - it's no coincidence that his ripost to Friday's win was to accuse Harry of wanting to "destroy the monarchy".

This sounds like code for: "Camilla, if you and Charles (and PW and KM) don't come to my rescue, I'll bring you down with me!"

But I suspect that in the royal palaces, there may be some discussion going on about the risk-benefits of putting royal necks out for Piers Morgan. Or at least if they exercised some foresight as to where public opinion is heading, beyond just placating the hating masses with a constant stream of M&H-bashing distractions, they should be: more than ever, Piers Morgan is damaged goods now that a High Court Judge has found him to be a liar, and the next year is not going to get any better for him.

No amount of hurling liar accusations at others, calling his show "Uncensored" and other gimmicks will protect Piers Morgan from the fact that most discerning people know and despise him as a bare-faced liar and a feckless hypocrite.

We should all keep calling for criminal prosecutions every way we can, echoing judge Sir Alan Moses, who said:
"If people lied to Sir Brian [Leveson, the chair of the official inquiry into phone hacking], then they ought to be prosecuted for perjury"

But I suspect in the end for Piers Morgan it'll be death by 1000 cuts. The more he gets into trouble, the more he will be thrashing around wildly calling for help from his masters in Buckingham Palace and Murdoch land, the more it'll be risky for them to defend him, the more toxic he'll become to media outlets (can you imagine a CNN taking him on now??), and the lower he'll sink...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prince-harry-piers-morgan-phone-hack-perjury-b2465201.html

save for Gary Lineker, no one notable. I won't be charitable and use the daily fail/gutter press language of has- beens.

I hope all of them visit when he is detained at His Majesty's pleasure.

Those wanting Piers prosecuted, and he should be if he has broken the law, remember he has an issue with Meghan and that he may try to sling as much mud as possible.

Also remember Meghan had to apologise to the court for “forgetting” her role in providing information to OS for Finding Freedom. The fact OS had in an early draft of Endgame the 2 names, where did he get them from?

Piers in court could be just as damaging to H & M as to the rest of the RF. There would be no winners - except perhaps republicans. Although what might be revealed about politicians etc may be just as unsavory and people may decide to keep the status quo.

While I agree, Cakester, the various editors probably also know a great deal about those in a position to push for prosecution

As they say, "information is power", and while the media have many faults it can't be denied they're pretty good at digging - even if we don't always like the way they do it

@Sisterpita Piers in court could be just as damaging to H & M as to the rest of the RF.

Does anyone seriously believe that?

The fact that one part of the RF is pursuing Piers Morgan in court, while the other is protecting him behind the scenes should provide a bit of a clue as to who has the most to lose from PM going down, no?

Piers obviously has zero kompromat on H&M, as if he did he'd be using it, instead of resorting to pathetically feeble "Californian suntan" jibes as he did on Friday in response to Friday's win. But on Prince William? on Camilla and Charles?? on Prince Andrew? I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

Piers in court could be just as damaging to H & M as to the rest of the RF. There would be no winners - except perhaps republicans. Although what might be revealed about politicians etc may be just as unsavory and people may decide to keep the status quo

Exactly, Sisterpita - it's the Paul Burrell/RF thing all over again, as in while many of us would love him to be prosecuted, can those he's offended really afford to push for it?

Maybe @Puzzledandpissedoff but they don't dig about things that are actually important. there are some things they should spend their time investigating, legally and professionally, and they chose to spend time on things like this royal soap opera. If thats what they do to control people in positions of power, then thats deplorable. We all deserve a reliable, honest media that reports on the news that matters.

Piers obviously has zero kompromat on H&M, as if he did he'd be using it

Not necessarily, TallerSally; after all he's not facing a career-ending scenario yet, and it's a well worn path for journalists to "hold over" stories for when they can be of most use to them

Even the horrible Tampax Tapes were said to have been recorded long before they were released, though why that particular time was chosen is something we may never know

We all deserve a reliable, honest media that reports on the news that matters.

We may deserve it but do we get it? There are some fantastic journalists but they are out numbered by the ones who destroy lives to make a profit.

The two names were widely known in the media, Piers said so himself and I think it was a calculated move that he, of all people, named them, when he did. He knew for years, but only named them now.

I am sure when Harry took everyone on, he knew exactly the tactics they would try to use. Thats why his book contained things about himself that were not exactly things you'd want everyone to know, but it was all the possible stories they could use on him. I think they're more than ready for whatever gossipy bits he thinks will distract the public from his seediness.

and he's not slinging mud now?

What does his prosecution on phone hacking have to do with a case that has been concluded regarding MM?

The Courts of Justice thankfully don't conflate illogical trains of thinking as this threads often do

is it the beginning if the fall of house of Windsor (or continued fall). Yeah, i doubt piers could damage Harry and Meghan. And they do have very very good legal teams unshackled by royal nonsense.
Oh and I think with this win and more wins to come, this is the start of H&M ascending. 2024 will be there year. The Royal family (and the press) crossed the wrong team. They have passion, believe, love and strong legal standing on their side. The royal family has ... well, perhaps history (but then the world is looking to the future), secrets, lies, and shady media on the side.
in a way its all very sad cos its real people, real lives losing out. families being torn apart. But his family and especially the Queen who had so much good will could have done so much more to prevent all this and put love for her family before duty. But to her it was always duty (power), not her sister, not her son (except may be Andrew), not her grandchildren or great grandchildren. Certainly not those that marry into the family. Yet she is still sainted.

We all deserve a reliable, honest media that reports on the news that matters

Absolutely spot on, @Cakester, though while I agree they spend far too much time on nonsense I'm not sure they "don't dig about things that are actually important"

From parliament and the RF down there are an awful lot of things we may never have known about except for the media, however repulsive their behaviour at times

That is an interesting observation - that his book might be part of his strategy against the tabloids.

If it is then it shows how careful they were in the planning.

'is it the beginning if the fall of house of Windsor (or continued fall). Yeah, i doubt piers could damage Harry and Meghan. And they do have very very good legal teams unshackled by royal nonsense.Oh and I think with this win and more wins to come, this is the start of H&M ascending. 2024 will be there year. The Royal family (and the press) crossed the wrong team'

The rf have weathered far worse than this. As has been said PW also challenged the media and was awarded a large amount in damages. They aren't exactly shackled by 'royal nonsense'.

I don't think '24 will be anyone's year tbh, everyone will just carry on as before. Some with more drama than others.

If being friends with Prince Charles could help Savile hide in plain sight, then I don't think Piers has anything to worry about now he's king.

@User135644
If being friends with Prince Charles could help Savile hide in plain sight, then I don't think Piers has anything to worry about now he's king.

Fair point.

But just how all-powerful a king is he, when as Harry exposed in Spare, the RF serves at the pleasure of the media? Who really holds the balance of power: KC? Murdoch/Rothermere/Barclay? the government? public opinion?

Unquestionably, the media holds the most power in the UK through their grip on public opinion, but it is a balancing act.

I don't think we can underestimate the threat that shifting public opinion represents, particularly if it can't be controlled by the usual media barons.

In the days of QEII, who would have imagined that Not My King protests would gain the momentum they now clearly have?