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'.

Wiki have a seemingly very comprehensive page on the role of the Police in the phone hacking scandal.

It is positively mind-blowing.

It also shows what an absolute scandal it was to cancel Leveson II. And the need for some sort of enquiry not just into historical collusion and corruption between the media, the police and the government, but some of the more recent issues too.

Of course, this would show up the royal palaces too, given the wealth of evidence that they are using this system for their own benefit (eg reported in detail by the investigative journalists at Byline Times, who have been reporting for years, and not just their recent pieces on the scandals involving Dan Wootton - for which there are dedicated MN threads). They, like the other establishment stakeholders, will be desperate to quash it too.

But as citizens we have a right to demand an end to this!

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

It never fails to amaze me that certain posters rip into red tops, news agencies and other media, as lies, lies and more lies, yet produce an article that supports their agenda, as gospel.

Frankly all media should be looked at sceptically. Even words coming from the actual mouths of the protagonists (as in Netflix docuseries) have proven to be lies and misdirection.

Sadly we live in a world where truth is what you say it is or read, not an actual factual fact. Try saying that after a few sherbets!

There it all is, in the public domain. Makes not a jot of difference. Demand away, not a chance that the can of worms will be opened, it's full of very nasty stuff and so much is interlinked that I start to feel like a right wing conspiracist even thinking about it. This can't be true! It is. Dreadful isn't it?

@newnamethanks
There it all is, in the public domain. Makes not a jot of difference.

True, it's all in the public domain... for those interested enough to search.

It's unbelievably shocking what you find, once you start searching.

I think what this needs is a proper TV documentary - has there ever been one?

Or better still, a TV show based on the actual events, a la Narcos/Mexico, the Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, or Dahmer.

(M&H, if you're looking for ideas for your next Netflix docu - look no further!!!)

(M&H, if you're looking for ideas for your next Netflix docu - look no further!!!)

Please no. They have form for turning everything they do into reverse Midas. Leave serious work to serious, honest and reputable journalists. They are out there despite this.

@TallerSally, have a look at Det Supt Hamish Campbell. A greatly respected Met policeman who investigated the Rachel Nickell murder, the Suzanne Dando murder and the 'spy in the suitcase'. 2 miscarriages of justice and one unsolved or 'sex game gone wrong'. It's an eyebrow raiser. He is retired with reputation, quite rightly, intact.

Yes, M&H should do it. Would be great

Oh and apologies if this has been posted already- really good annotations here https://bylinetimes.com/2023/12/19/piers-morgans-statement-on-the-prince-harry-phone-hacking-case-annotated/

Be careful with things written on Wiki.

I could have written it. 😉 Or someone similar.

It is better to look at the links used and the quality of them.

Well, every day's a schoolday. Which references in the above are you finding fault with? They appear perfectly respectable and verifiable.

Great breakdown of Morgan’s statement.

The police taki g backhanders from journalists was revealed at Leveson. Its not idle gossip. Then as a result nothing ws done about it and the Met have gone on to get even worse in their complete disregard for victims of crime.

@newnamethanks if you want to be taken seriously in discussions use the links not wiki articles themselves. It is well known that anybody can place nonsense within an article which is why anyone from journalists to students are told not to use wiki articles themselves as their source of evidence.

@Angrycat2768 you have clearly missed my other posts.

Thank you for your advice. I am neither a journalist nor a student I am simply on a mumsnet discussion thread, like you, which does not require the level of evidence you deem appropriate. You are welcome to investigate each individual link, most are published articles from the Guardian, and comment upon each if you wish.

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/20/1219570870/washington-post-will-lewis-tabloid-hacking-prince-harry

i thought I’d pop this here - although it would be relevant to the byline times investigation thread too, I think. Meredith Constant (again; with me mentioning Meredith) breaks the article down in her Tik Tok content from yesterday.

I didn’t know anything about this CEO but British posters on here would. He’s been around for years.

@ALittleTeawithmilk

Great article. The rot is so deep. The Sun arranged burglaries to obtain info? Truly despicable.

Harry should be proud he stood up to the mirror and other degenerate rags.

Thanks, @ALittleTeawithmilk . I remember the mass deletion of emails by News Corps, and a few other incidents which were reported on around the time the hacking scandal broke and the Leveson Inquiry.

I don't remember much about Will Lewis individually from that time, but there were so many of them up to their necks. Well, obviously, because phone hacking and other illegal data intustions were so widely used in that industry.

And the case has now been settled

A real shame about everyone else though

Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, actress Nikki Sanderson, and Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse, had also brought similar claims against the company.

The claims brought by Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman were dismissed because they were made too late, despite the judge finding that some of their complaints were proven.

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that both should pay MGN the legal costs of defending their individual claims.

The judge also ruled that Mr Turner should pay MGN's costs of responding to his claim from the date of 5 March 2022, where an offer was made.

Perhaps MGN will be magnanimous and waive costs - we live in hope.

The claims brought by Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman were dismissed because they were made too late, despite the judge finding that some of their complaints were proven.
**
Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that both should pay MGN the legal costs of defending their individual claims.
**
The judge also ruled that Mr Turner should pay MGN's costs of responding to his claim from the date of 5 March 2022, where an offer was made.

Skullbabe👆so unfair. (I know it’s the law but it still seems very unfair).

Very sadly a salutary lesson why having your day in court may not be the best option.

I can understand why people settle as court is not only expensive but also incredibly stressful.

Well done Harry for pursuing these newspapers , no wonder he gets such bad press constantly and his wife , let’s hope it’s the last we see of Piers Morgan , a horrible little obnoxious man who has poured his bile constantly at Meghan and Harry , now we know why ! The newspapers should be charged with perverting the course of Justice for lying to the Levenson inquiry but they won’t . I can’t help wondering why the Royal Family didn’t try to protect Meghan and Harry for the awful often racist coverage when they met and subsequent marriage maybe the press know too much about them and they were scared to challenge the newspapers too , the hatred printed about Harry was something they didn’t want to face themselves .

The court system - for civil claims such as these - is designed to encourage people to agree a solution without needing to go to court.

One the one hand, it does disadvantage those who can't risk losing (or getting an amount less than the formal offer, as they are then liable for the losing side's legal costs), on the other hand the tax payer funds the courts and it is better if people can come to an agreement without involving the court.

A major problem here is that the criminal investigation system has failed, and the civil damages system can't (and shouldn't) fill the gap.

I hope the criminal investigation is reopened.

I agree that the criminal justice system has failed miserably in this phone hacking scandal, no small thanks to corruption in n the Metropolitan Police (as per numerous reports), and it goes broader as it shows up the extent of collusion between the media, the police and government, and of course the royal palaces with their single-minded focus on maintaining the popularity and therefore survival of the billionaire RF.

The cancellation of Leveson II is a perfect demonstration of this.

Harry and the claimants are calling for the criminal investigation to be reopened - will it happen?

Perhaps with a change of government- though there too, no guarantees…

These high profile cases led by Harry and Steve Coogan and Hugh Grant etc are so welcome because they throw light on so many hidden practices
There is so much secrecy and silence in the so called higher echelons of our society . The ‘royals’ need silence and secret deals etc so they will never fight the good fight. They do not lead .

Byline times and Carole Vorderman are beacons too.
Our society needs a shake up. Let the light in for gods sake.