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The royal family
Original poster

Extensive Phone Hacking by MGN

892 replies

Roussette · 15/12/2023 11:04

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'.

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newnamethanks · 15/12/2023 13:01

Ha! Maybe PM hacked a phone call between M&H in which they spoke of their opinions of him. Listeners never hear any good of themselves, Piers, how can you not know that? When PM left The Mirror, he knocked up a book about his experiences. This was donkeys years ago but I recall him recounting that someone told him how to access other people's voicemails and that he showed others in the office how to do so. Im sure he never encouraged any of his story-sniffing journos to do that, perish the thought. Perhaps my memory is at fault.

Gooseysgirl · 15/12/2023 13:02

Fulshaw · 15/12/2023 12:57

Bravo Harry, and the others, for bringing this claim. Not an easy thing to do.

Daily Mail next. You’re going down, you fuckers!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 hear hear

Cakester · 15/12/2023 13:03

andIsaid · 15/12/2023 13:00

How much of that is connected to the timing of the ruling and how much to the release of Endgame? I don't think the ramping up is connected with the case so much as it is with the book.

You have two factors here.

The first is that a few weeks ago they knew they were going to lose and offered to settle. That is the connection to the case (wall to wall extreme negative coverage ensued before the public announcement).

The second is that the judge stated he found O.Scobie measured and reliable. That is the connection to the case and the book - (wall to wall extreme negative coverage ensued before the public announcement. Not at all reliable. A liar in fact)!

We need to pay attention to this - PH and OS are people who largely have no impact on our lives.

BUT - the papers operate in the same way when it does impact us. That is the utility argument.

The ethical and moral arguments are clear.

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This is a great post, and I agree. I think you make excellent points about timing, and the settlement offer, and the media onslaught against them increasing around key times, including Scobie also.

MrsLeonFarrell · 15/12/2023 13:06

andIsaid · 15/12/2023 13:00

How much of that is connected to the timing of the ruling and how much to the release of Endgame? I don't think the ramping up is connected with the case so much as it is with the book.

You have two factors here.

The first is that a few weeks ago they knew they were going to lose and offered to settle. That is the connection to the case (wall to wall extreme negative coverage ensued before the public announcement).

The second is that the judge stated he found O.Scobie measured and reliable. That is the connection to the case and the book - (wall to wall extreme negative coverage ensued before the public announcement. Not at all reliable. A liar in fact)!

We need to pay attention to this - PH and OS are people who largely have no impact on our lives.

BUT - the papers operate in the same way when it does impact us. That is the utility argument.

The ethical and moral arguments are clear.

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I can quite believe that Scobie gave reliable evidence in a court case whilst not finding him a reliable narrator of his book and subsequent events.

I think the problem with things like this is most people are not all good or all bad but we use single events to paint a broad picture. Nuance seems particularly lacking when it comes to the royal family.

Harry was hacked, Scobie was found a reliable witness. These are facts in the judgement. They don't change my mind about other aspects of both these people I find less than savoury.

FinallyFinalGirl · 15/12/2023 13:07

Delighted for Harry.

lemmein · 15/12/2023 13:07

Thatfeatherthere · 15/12/2023 11:51

Really pleased he won. Anyone who belittles the effect phone hacking can have on someone's life should research the Milly Dowler case. And then watch the Paul Gascoigne documentary where he explained how hacking had a dramatic effect on his mental health as he no longer felt able to trust anyone.

Same with Jeff Brazier and Jade Goody. Brazier has said in the past that their relationship ended because she thought he was selling stories to the press - unbeknownst to her she was a victim of phone hacking.

I'm so pleased about todays ruling - the press in this country act like the mafia, it's about time they were reigned in.

I'm patiently waiting for Piers Morgan's downfall...it's coming!

Original poster
Roussette · 15/12/2023 13:08

FinallyFinalGirl · 15/12/2023 13:07

Delighted for Harry.

Me too. Very much so.

I feel there is some vindication for him to be honest.

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Thatfeatherthere · 15/12/2023 13:09

Sharedcupboard · 15/12/2023 12:21

I am pleased for PH and for the others I should add.

While I don’t like some of how PH has come across in the last few years, perhaps this will give some an understanding of what he has been through in his teens. No wonder the guy struggles with his mental health. I also looked at the Daily Mail who have posted nothing. Gutter press really and should be shut down. Piers Morgan also needs dealt with.

As previously mentioned, there's a documentary about Paul Gascoigne in which he talks about the effect phone hacking had on him. He started to believe his immediate family were leaking stories on him, so withdrew from them completely and became paranoid. It is a really hard watch.

Having written the paragraph above, it's just occurred to me how parallel their stories are.

meercat23 · 15/12/2023 13:10

ThisisgroundcontroltoMajorTom · 15/12/2023 11:53

I really hope that this shores up the case for holding Levenson2

Absolutely this and a properly independent regulatory body. A free press has to be an honest press.

andIsaid · 15/12/2023 13:10

Cakester · 15/12/2023 12:21

They might not hack anymore but they all use ordinary, as well as, famous people as a commodity. Not sure how we change that.

Maybe, by not participating? Not clicking on their stories or buying their papers? I do think we, the public, have a lot more power than we realise.

While I agree with you on this Cakester I also think they should be bound by higher standards.

For me - big companies who want a slice of us should be forced to play nicely! Tech companies deliberatley target our children but blame feckless parents. Tobacco companies make their fags highly addictive and blame feckless smokers. Etc.

We needs better rules of participation.

Especially for newspapers.

Cakester · 15/12/2023 13:11

They've literally destroyed peoples lives and not one of the top people who instructed others to do this, has ever been held properly accountable. I want them in prison for this. I just am so angry it took people taking this to the civil courts, we have been let down by our government and by the police.

Cakester · 15/12/2023 13:11

andIsaid · 15/12/2023 13:10

While I agree with you on this Cakester I also think they should be bound by higher standards.

For me - big companies who want a slice of us should be forced to play nicely! Tech companies deliberatley target our children but blame feckless parents. Tobacco companies make their fags highly addictive and blame feckless smokers. Etc.

We needs better rules of participation.

Especially for newspapers.

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I so agree with you!

Mirrormeback · 15/12/2023 13:12

Piers Morgan writes about phone hacking in his autobiography.

He very clearly that they all did it.

It was published years ago so before anyone took anyone to court over it

I'm amazed that wasn't used as an admission of guilt

Mirrormeback · 15/12/2023 13:13

I only read it because a colleague lent it to me.

Myfabby · 15/12/2023 13:14

Mirrormeback · 15/12/2023 13:13

I only read it because a colleague lent it to me.

😂

Love the disclaimer.

lemmein · 15/12/2023 13:15

Mirrormeback · 15/12/2023 13:13

I only read it because a colleague lent it to me.

Grin
Mirrormeback · 15/12/2023 13:16
Grin
andIsaid · 15/12/2023 13:16

Roussette · 15/12/2023 12:32

@andIsaid

That is truly awful. Sadly, I can imagine that sort of thing happening. I hope your friend is doing OK

Ah thank you Rousette.

They are building something new and trying to find their feet.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 15/12/2023 13:17

No surprise another newspaper group has been hacking phones and the right thing to do not to settle.

ThisisgroundcontroltoMajorTom · 15/12/2023 13:19

MrsLeonFarrell · 15/12/2023 13:06

I can quite believe that Scobie gave reliable evidence in a court case whilst not finding him a reliable narrator of his book and subsequent events.

I think the problem with things like this is most people are not all good or all bad but we use single events to paint a broad picture. Nuance seems particularly lacking when it comes to the royal family.

Harry was hacked, Scobie was found a reliable witness. These are facts in the judgement. They don't change my mind about other aspects of both these people I find less than savoury.

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I’m not so sure. High Court judges get pretty good at assessing people and this judge made a particular point of describing OS’s testimony as straightforward and measured.

OS makes a living from writing books and articles about H&M and beyond that I know very little about him, but as he’s generally viewed as being supporters of them, he has come in for a lot of the same disparagement and negativity from the tabloids.

LadyKenya · 15/12/2023 13:20

mamma65432 · 15/12/2023 12:58

No comment or statement from BP then.

Their lack of public support for Harry, has been nothing short of disgusting.

Original poster
Roussette · 15/12/2023 13:22

LadyKenya · 15/12/2023 13:20

Their lack of public support for Harry, has been nothing short of disgusting.

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I 100% agree. He's been maligned on here and elsewhere for doing this in the most horrendous way.
Not taking the money but pursuing the case is brave.

The media have said this morning that was a brave move, how it will open up more discussion on the stranglehold of the press, of how he brought this case not for money, but for the principle. And more

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andIsaid · 15/12/2023 13:23

Cakester · 15/12/2023 13:11

I so agree with you!

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We are on a grove today - you and me! 😁

andIsaid · 15/12/2023 13:26

LadyKenya · 15/12/2023 13:20

Their lack of public support for Harry, has been nothing short of disgusting.

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Agreed.

Stunning failure by the King.

Original poster
Roussette · 15/12/2023 13:26

Mirrormeback · 15/12/2023 13:13

I only read it because a colleague lent it to me.

That did make me laugh out loud! I get what you mean!

It's like when I just feel I have to read an article in one of the news sources I avoid like the plague, so I can comment on it... I feel a bit grubby afterwards!

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