Key witness in Mail case says hacking claims 'false': Private investigator ... trends now
A private investigator whose 'confessions' form a key element of a privacy case being brought against Associated Newspapers by Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John and others has denied their allegations that he acted illegally against them on behalf of the Daily Mail or Mail on Sunday.
The development came as the Duke of Sussex made a surprise appearance at a preliminary court hearing, after flying in from the US overnight.
In a smart black suit and blue tie, Harry sat behind his lawyers in Court 76 of the Royal Courts of Justice, listening intently and making notes.
Sir Elton and his husband David Furnish also appeared in court in the afternoon, as did Baroness Lawrence, while the actress Sadie Frost attended like Harry for the whole day.
The claimants allege they were told that the investigator, Gavin Burrows, had admitted hacking phones, tapping landlines and bugging cars. The allegations were set out in a statement he provided to their lawyers 18 months ago.
Surprise appearance: Prince Harry arrives today
Claimants: Sir Elton John outside court
According to documents submitted by his lawyers, Prince Harry said he embarked on the case after being told Mr Burrows had 'admitted to targeting me'.
Baroness Lawrence said she launched her case after being informed that Mr Burrows and another private investigator had recently confessed to carrying out a wide range of criminal activities on behalf of Mail newspapers. Sir Elton, Mr Furnish, Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost also cited Mr Burrows' alleged confessions.
However, according to written submissions by Adrian Beltrami KC, counsel for Associated, Mr Burrows 'has provided a signed witness statement denying that he was commissioned or instructed by Associated to carry out any unlawful activity'.
The Mail's publisher earlier said in a statement: 'We categorically deny the very serious claims made in this litigation and will vigorously defend them – if that proves necessary.'
The case has not yet come to trial and yesterday's hearing was to hear three applications to the judge, Mr Justice Nicklin.
The judge quickly awarded the Mail victory in the first application it made. It asked for anonymity for journalists named in the claims, in order to prevent distinguished journalists having their reputations destroyed in the event that the claims never proceeded to a full trial. Mr Justice Nicklin said this was justified.
The Mail's second application yesterday related to documents – accounting ledgers – which were confidentially supplied by the Mail to the Leveson Inquiry 12 years ago. Those documents are now being used in this case – in breach of a restriction order and confidentiality undertakings given to the inquiry, the newspaper group said.
Mr Beltrami told the judge: 'We are in a
