'Unlawful' practices covered up - claimants' lawyer
James Gregory
Reporting from the High Court
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
David Sherborne, the lawyer representing the claimants in the case, says Mirror Group Newspapers' legal department knew
"from even the most basic investigation" that unlawful practices were
taking place by journalists.
He says there were "increasingly concerned" emails
from financial management about "vast sums" paid to private
investigations, and there were board meetings to "discuss the Mirror group's
liability for it".
"Despite that, there is not a single note from any such
meeting," Sherborne says.
He adds that evidence of unlawful information gathering from
former employee David Brown, who settled an employment tribunal with Mirror group after
being dismissed in 2006, was "absolutely right".
"They would not have settled if they had not
investigated it," he says.
"This was a cover up - plain and simple."
What is unlawful information gathering?
Lawyers of the four claimants in the case, which include Prince Harry, allege that there was "widespread" use of unlawful information gathering methods at Mirror Group Newspapers to obtain private information.
David Sherborne, the lawyer representing claimants, has said these activities include the use of phone hacking, securing information through deception and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
The Mirror group is contesting the cases brought and denies using voicemail interception.
Day three of the case begins
James Gregory
Reporting from the High Court
Day three of a High Court trial over alleged phone hacking claims brought by Prince Harry and three celebrity claimants celebrities against Mirror Group Newspapers is now under way.
We are expecting to hear first from David Sherborne, representing the claimants, as he finishes his opening arguments this morning.
We will then be hearing from Mirror Group Newspapers, represented in court by Andrew Green KC.
I’m in court in London for the day and will be bringing you the latest.
What’s happened in the trial so far?
If you haven’t been following the trial or need a reminder of what’s happened so far, here’s a recap of the first two days.
Day One:
On the first day of the trial, Prince Harry blamed alleged illegal intrusion into his private life by journalists for the break-up of a long-term relationship with former girlfriend Chelsy Davy. In a witness statement read out by his lawyers, he said Davy had decided that "a royal life was not for her" following repeated acts of harassment
The lawyers also said that mobile phone data to be used in the trial shows Davy was targeted for voicemail interception between 2007 and 2009
Day Two:
On day two of the trial, the claimants’ barrister David Sherborne told the court that “widespread, habitual and unlawful” activities were “authorised at the highest level” by senior executives, editors and managers of the Mirror group
He said millions of pounds were paid to private investigators, with the payments signed off by senior figures at the publisher at the time
Sherborne detailed a story published by the Daily Mirror - with Morgan as editor - about Prince Michael of Kent's finances, after which the group apologised and settled a legal claim
The Mirror group denies allegations of voicemail interception in the cases being brought and has also claimed some of the cases in this trial are beyond a legal time limit.
Who is involved in the trial?
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
The High Court is hearing allegations from Prince Harry and others that their phones were hacked by journalists from Mirror Group Newspapers.
Harry’s is one of four “test cases” selected to go on trial from a wider group of claimants. The four cases brought to trial are “representative” of the types of allegations facing the publisher.
Lawyers for the claimants argue that executives at the company knew about widespread "unlawful" information gathering, but failed to act.
Alongside the Duke of Sussex, allegations from three other high-profile claimants are being tested: Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell (real name Michael Turner), actress Nikki Sanderson and Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of the comedian Paul Whitehouse.
Prince Harry is expected to give evidence in June - the first time a senior royal will be a witness in court in modern times.
The Mirror Group denies allegations of voicemail interception in these cases. It also claimed some of the cases being brought are beyond a legal time limit.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the third day of a trial over
alleged phone hacking claims brought against Mirror Group Newspapers by Prince
Harry and three other celebrity claimants.
The High Court is hearing a seven-week long trial into their allegations
that the publisher used private investigators and phone hacking to gain access
to stories about them.
Yesterday, the Duke of Sussex’s lawyer alleged that unlawful information
gathering was widespread and authorised by those at the highest levels of the
publisher.
The Mirror group denies all allegations of phone hacking brought by the
claimants in this case - but it has previously admitted that the practice did
take place.
This afternoon, the court is due to hear from the publisher’s lawyer.
I’m here in London
with my colleagues Jamie Whitehead and Jennifer McKiernan, with James Gregory
reporting from court - stay with us as we bring you today’s developments.
Live Reporting
Edited by Rob Corp
All times stated are UK
'Unlawful' practices covered up - claimants' lawyer
James Gregory
Reporting from the High Court
David Sherborne, the lawyer representing the claimants in the case, says Mirror Group Newspapers' legal department knew "from even the most basic investigation" that unlawful practices were taking place by journalists.
He says there were "increasingly concerned" emails from financial management about "vast sums" paid to private investigations, and there were board meetings to "discuss the Mirror group's liability for it".
"Despite that, there is not a single note from any such meeting," Sherborne says.
He adds that evidence of unlawful information gathering from former employee David Brown, who settled an employment tribunal with Mirror group after being dismissed in 2006, was "absolutely right".
"They would not have settled if they had not investigated it," he says.
"This was a cover up - plain and simple."
What is unlawful information gathering?
Lawyers of the four claimants in the case, which include Prince Harry, allege that there was "widespread" use of unlawful information gathering methods at Mirror Group Newspapers to obtain private information.
David Sherborne, the lawyer representing claimants, has said these activities include the use of phone hacking, securing information through deception and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
The Mirror group is contesting the cases brought and denies using voicemail interception.
Day three of the case begins
James Gregory
Reporting from the High Court
Day three of a High Court trial over alleged phone hacking claims brought by Prince Harry and three celebrity claimants celebrities against Mirror Group Newspapers is now under way.
We are expecting to hear first from David Sherborne, representing the claimants, as he finishes his opening arguments this morning.
We will then be hearing from Mirror Group Newspapers, represented in court by Andrew Green KC.
I’m in court in London for the day and will be bringing you the latest.
What’s happened in the trial so far?
If you haven’t been following the trial or need a reminder of what’s happened so far, here’s a recap of the first two days.
Day One:
Day Two:
The Mirror group denies allegations of voicemail interception in the cases being brought and has also claimed some of the cases in this trial are beyond a legal time limit.
Who is involved in the trial?
The High Court is hearing allegations from Prince Harry and others that their phones were hacked by journalists from Mirror Group Newspapers.
Harry’s is one of four “test cases” selected to go on trial from a wider group of claimants. The four cases brought to trial are “representative” of the types of allegations facing the publisher.
Lawyers for the claimants argue that executives at the company knew about widespread "unlawful" information gathering, but failed to act.
Alongside the Duke of Sussex, allegations from three other high-profile claimants are being tested: Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell (real name Michael Turner), actress Nikki Sanderson and Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of the comedian Paul Whitehouse.
Prince Harry is expected to give evidence in June - the first time a senior royal will be a witness in court in modern times.
The Mirror Group denies allegations of voicemail interception in these cases. It also claimed some of the cases being brought are beyond a legal time limit.
Read more here
Hello and welcome
Alys Davies
Live reporter
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the third day of a trial over alleged phone hacking claims brought against Mirror Group Newspapers by Prince Harry and three other celebrity claimants.
The High Court is hearing a seven-week long trial into their allegations that the publisher used private investigators and phone hacking to gain access to stories about them.
Yesterday, the Duke of Sussex’s lawyer alleged that unlawful information gathering was widespread and authorised by those at the highest levels of the publisher.
The Mirror group denies all allegations of phone hacking brought by the claimants in this case - but it has previously admitted that the practice did take place.
This afternoon, the court is due to hear from the publisher’s lawyer.
I’m here in London with my colleagues Jamie Whitehead and Jennifer McKiernan, with James Gregory reporting from court - stay with us as we bring you today’s developments.