Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has achieved a partial victory in his lawsuit against a British newspaper publisher, Mirror Group. The case revolves around allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful actions by the media company. Despite not being present for the final verdict in London’s High Court, Prince Harry’s lawyer, David Sherbourne, read aloud a statement on his behalf outside the courthouse.
In his statement, Prince Harry emphasized that the case goes beyond hacking, pointing to a systemic practice of unlawful and appalling behavior, including cover-ups and destruction of evidence. He highlighted the extensive nature of these actions, which has become apparent through the legal proceedings.
The journey towards justice has been described as slow and painful by Prince Harry, who brought the claim almost five years ago. He expressed frustration over defamatory stories and intimidating tactics deployed against him and his family during this period. Despite the challenges, he stressed the importance of patience in the face of what he referred to as vendetta journalism.
A quick recap of the case reveals that Prince Harry accused Mirror Group outlets of over 140 illegal activities, including hacking his phone, with the aim of obtaining private information for news stories published between 1995 and 2011. The court’s decision includes a monetary award of £140,000 (approximately $180,000) to Prince Harry, which is more than half of the original £320,000 he sought.
The trial focused on 33 sample articles central to Prince Harry’s claim, revealing that 15 of them “were the product of phone hacking of his mobile phone or the mobile phones of his associates, or the product of other unlawful information-gathering,” according to CNBC.
Prince Harry called attention to the abuse of power by the press, urging authorities, financial regulators, the Stock Market, and law enforcement to investigate and potentially bring charges against Mirror Group and those responsible for breaking the law.
Reflecting on the ruling, Prince Harry sees it as vindicating and affirming. He acknowledged the challenges faced in pursuing justice, comparing it to “slaying dragons” and being burned in the process. However, he emphasized the importance of a free and honest press, expressing a commitment to continue the mission despite the obstacles.
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