‘I was not a campaigner’– Prince Harry’s fellow Daily Mail claimant speaks out
Prince Harry is one of the claimants (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Prince Harry’s fellow claimant in the case against the Daily Mail, which the claimants lost earlier this month, has spoken out as the case returned to court this week. The Duke of Sussex and six other claimants accused the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers, of unlawful information gathering.
A trial earlier this year found that these claims could not be proved, with Associated Newspapers winning the case. The publisher had always denied the claims against them. The case is now back in court this week to work out the legal costs.
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Associated Newspapers said its costs amounted to £34million, and wanted costs to be awarded on an ‘indemnity’ basis, which would mean the court would not have to decide if the publisher’s costs are proportional to the case.
The claimants described Associated’s costs as “eyewatering”.
While none of the claimants was in court for the two-day costs hearing at the High Court this week, former Government minister Sir Simon Hughes – one of the claimants in the case – said he did not “plan to target” publisher Associated Newspapers.
The Daily Mail reports that Nicholas Bacon KC, on behalf of the claimants, said in court this week that he was contacted by former justice minister Sir Simon overnight to speak on his behalf.
Sir Simon wanted his point to be heard (Image: Cate Gillon/Getty Images)
He said: “He wishes to make it clear he was not a campaigner against Associated. It was not part of his case or plan to target ANL, its people or its papers.
“At no time did he publicly ally his case to the other claimants. He is not a celebrity and was, at the time, a responsible senior MP and minister of state.”
Antony White KC, on behalf of Associated, said Sir Simon accused Associated of “widespread criminality of the most heinous form”.
Mr Justice Nicklin will decide how much money the claimants will have to pay and whether it will be on an indemnity basis. This judgement will be made in August.
