Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

British actor Hugh Grant leaves the Rolls Building in London after settling his phone-hacking claims against Mirror Group Newspapers. AP
mirror group

Hugh Grant settles phone-hacking damages against UK newspapers

It’s been reported that the case was settled for a six-figure sum.

BRITISH ACTOR HUGH Grant has settled his phone-hacking damages claim against Mirror Group Newspapers.

Grant was at the High Court today when the details of the settlement were provided at a hearing.

Grant said the newspaper group had engaged in “industrial scale” phone hacking.

“This newspaper group has misled the public and its shareholders for many years; and it has let down its readers and its hard-working journalists,” Grant said outside the court.

Settlement details weren’t made public. British media said the payment involved a six-figure sum which the actor donated to the anti-hacking activist group Hacked Off.

Grant’s claim involved the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People newspapers. He has for a number of years spoken out against intrusive and sometimes illegal British press activities.

MGN said it “deeply regretted” the acts and described them as “morally wrong”, according to the BBC.

In a statement outside the court, Grant said that Mirror Group Newspapers had admitted in a statement in Open Court that “a number of its senior employees, including executives, editors and journalists, condoned, encouraged or actively turned a blind eye to the widespread culture of unlawful information”.

This included “gathering activities at all three of its newspapers for many years and actively sought to conceal its wrongdoing from its many victims of intrusion”.

He added:

Its repeated and prolonged intrusions into innocent people’s lives over, in some instances, a decade, could have been prevented or interrupted.

- with reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha.

Read: British newspaper group admits liability in four cases of phone hacking

Read: Hacking: Grant wins access to police records, as royals dragged into Coulson row

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Author
Associated Foreign Press
Your Voice
Readers Comments
9
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds