Lawyers representing Prince Harry and other claimants in Britain are seeking to amend their lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch’s British newspapers to include allegations of a cover-up by the media mogul himself. The lawsuit, filed against News Group Newspapers (NGN), accuses the tabloids Sun and News of the World of unlawful invasions of privacy dating back to the mid-1990s. The trial is set to begin in January and could last up to eight weeks.
During a three-day hearing, the claimants’ lawyers asked Judge Timothy Fancourt to allow changes to their case against NGN to include evidence of a cover-up by senior executives at the newspaper group. Among the proposed amendments are references to Murdoch and evidence related to Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News UK, which is News Corp’s British newspaper arm.
NGN’s lawyers argue that the amendments are unnecessary, disproportionate, and irrelevant, introducing a significant number of new individuals and serious allegations. Anthony Hudson, NGN’s lawyer, suggested that some claimants, including actor Hugh Grant, are using the lawsuit as a platform for wider campaigning against the tabloid press.
In 2012, NGN issued an apology for phone-hacking by journalists at the News of the World, which led Murdoch to close the publication. The group has settled over 1,300 claims related to the scandal, but it has consistently denied any wrongdoing by Sun staff. Brooks, a former editor of the Sun, was acquitted of hacking charges in 2014.
During the hearing, David Sherborne, the lawyer for Prince Harry and other claimants, alleged that both Murdoch and Brooks were aware that NGN’s claim of only “one rogue reporter” being involved in unlawful activities was false. According to Sherborne, Murdoch knew about the allegations and approved the company’s false denial, which had to be sanctioned by News Corp’s board.
The claimants’ lawyers also sought to include evidence from a former IT engineer indicating that Brooks’ computer hard drive was hidden or possibly destroyed in 2011 to cover up her involvement in wrongdoing. NGN’s lawyers argued that the amended details are an attempt to re-examine previous court decisions and findings from a 2012 public inquiry.
NGN’s written submission stated that the new allegations against previously named individuals in the case are serious and wide-ranging, potentially leading to a re-evaluation of criminal trials or inquiries. The claimants are accused of trying to turn the lawsuit into a substitute for a public inquiry, potentially impacting the scope and focus of the trial.
The trial is set to proceed, with both sides presenting their arguments before a final decision is reached. The outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for the tabloid press and potentially reshape the relationship between the media and public figures in Britain.
It remains to be seen how the inclusion of Murdoch and additional evidence will impact the proceedings and whether it will uncover new information related to the alleged cover-up of unlawful activities at News Group Newspapers. The lawsuit represents a significant legal battle that has drawn attention to the practices of the British tabloid press and the accountability of media organizations in the country.
By Michael Holden
