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Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloid newspaper business has apologized and agreed to pay “significant damages” to Prince Harry after admitting for the first time that illegal activities took place at The Sun.
In a landmark settlement with the Duke of Sussex, his lawyer David Sherborne told the High Court in London on Wednesday that News Group Newspapers had offered a “full and unequivocal apology” for “serious intrusions” into his private life. to the prince by The Sun between 1996 and 2011.
The admissions are a blow to the Murdoch empire, which has spent a decade denying any wrongdoing at The Sun, even as it paid more than £1bn in costs and settlements to cover almost all phone-hacking claims against the group. UK wide news.
But it does mean NGN will avoid a court ruling over broad allegations of phone hacking and other illegal activity, as well as allegations of a cover-up involving senior executives.
In a statement, NGN said it was sorry “for the distress caused to the duke and the damage caused to relationships, friendships and family” and apologized to the prince for his treatment of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother.
The company added that it had agreed to pay him “substantial damages” in relation to “illegal activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun”. No value was specified.
The prince was the only remaining claimant in a High Court case against NGN along with former Labor deputy leader Lord Tom Watson, to whom the company also apologized on Wednesday.
The company offered a “full and unequivocal” apology to Watson for “unwarranted intrusions” into his private life during his time in government by the News of the World between 2009 and 2011.
She admitted he had been scrutinized in 2009 by reporters at the Sunday tabloid and also agreed to pay him “substantial damages”. Terms were not disclosed.
