Piers Morgan issues savage response to Prince Harry after royal settles in phone hacking case

Piers Morgan issues savage response to Prince Harry after royal settles in phone hacking case

Prince Harry's lawyer arrives at court on Friday

Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 09/02/2024

- 15:38

Updated: 09/02/2024

- 17:01

The Duke of Sussex continued to claim Morgan knew about the phone hacking

Piers Morgan has reacted to the news Prince Harry has settled the remaining parts of his claim against Mirror Group Newspapers on Friday.

In doing so, Prince Harry's lawyers also released a statement on the royal's behalf in which he continued to take aim at former Mirror Editor, Morgan.


Morgan has always denied any knowledge of any alleged phone hacking which went on during his time as editor.

Harry's lawyer David Sherborne said his client had been awarded "substantial" additional damages by the Mirror Group Newspapers while the organisation said it was "pleased" to be able to "move forward from the events that took place many years ago".

Piers Morgan

Piers Morgan has reacted to Prince Harry's settlement

PA

The Duke couldn't resist a pop at Morgan, however, as he doubled down on his claim that the 58-year-old "knew perfectly well what was going on".

Harry went on to add: "Even his own employer realised it simply could not call him as a witness of truth at the trial.

"His contempt for the court’s ruling and his continued attacks ever since demonstrate why it was so important to obtain a clear and detailed judgement."

Morgan has now taken to X, formerly Twitter to share a statement in response to the Duke's words.

He penned: "STATEMENT: I totally agree with Prince Harry that ruthless intrusion into the private lives of the Royal Family for financial gain is utterly reprehensible…

"And I hope he stops doing it."

Prince Harry

Prince Harry has settled with the Mirror Group Newspapers

GETTY

Friday's settlement comes after a judge ruled in December that phone hacking was practised and had become “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) titles in the late 1990s.

The Duke was awarded £140,600 in damages after Mr Justice Fancourt concluded that his phone was hacked “to a modest extent” by MGN.

“Generic” evidence about wider alleged wrongdoing at MGN also came to light.

Mr Justice Fancourt stated on the day of the settlement that the publisher should pay “generic” legal costs to those involved in the legal action.

He said: “On the generic issues, there can be little doubt that the claimants were successful.

“In this unusual case, justice is only done by awarding the claimants their costs of the generic issues.”

Harry initially sued MGN for damages, claiming journalists at the publication used phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

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