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Phone hacking: Celebrities win damages from Mirror Group Phone hacking: Celebrities win damages from Mirror Group
(about 1 hour later)
Damages totalling nearly £1.25m have been awarded to eight people whose phones were hacked by Mirror Group journalists writing celebrity stories.Damages totalling nearly £1.25m have been awarded to eight people whose phones were hacked by Mirror Group journalists writing celebrity stories.
Actress Sadie Frost won £260,000 and ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne £188,250.Actress Sadie Frost won £260,000 and ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne £188,250.
Soap stars Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin also received payouts. Mirror Group is considering whether to seek permission to appeal.Soap stars Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin also received payouts. Mirror Group is considering whether to seek permission to appeal.
The decision followed a three-week hearing at London's High Court to determine wrongdoing and damages. The scale of damages reflected the invasions of privacy being "so serious and so prolonged", the judge said.
The judge, Mr Justice Mann said the victims had all suffered a "serious infringement of privacy" and the scale of hacking had been "very substantial". Mr Justice Mann added: "The length, degree and frequency of all this conduct explains why the sums I have awarded are so much greater than historical awards.
"People whose private voicemail messages were hacked so often and for so long, and had very significant parts of their private lives exposed, and then reported on, are entitled to significant compensation."
The decision follows a three-week hearing at London's High Court to determine wrongdoing and damages.
Soap starsSoap stars
He awarded Mr Richie, who plays Alfie Moon in EastEnders, £155,000 in damages.He awarded Mr Richie, who plays Alfie Moon in EastEnders, £155,000 in damages.
Ms Benjamin, who was referred to in court by her real name of Lucy Taggart, received £157,250. She played Lisa Fowler in EastEnders.Ms Benjamin, who was referred to in court by her real name of Lucy Taggart, received £157,250. She played Lisa Fowler in EastEnders.
Mr Justice Mann also awarded Ms Gulati, Coronation Street's Sunita Alahan, £117,500, and £85,000 to BBC creative director Alan Yentob.Mr Justice Mann also awarded Ms Gulati, Coronation Street's Sunita Alahan, £117,500, and £85,000 to BBC creative director Alan Yentob.
TV producer Robert Ashworth, who was married to Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw, received £201,250, while flight attendant Lauren Alcorn, who had a relationship with footballer Rio Ferdinand, was awarded £72,500.TV producer Robert Ashworth, who was married to Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw, received £201,250, while flight attendant Lauren Alcorn, who had a relationship with footballer Rio Ferdinand, was awarded £72,500.
Trinity Mirror, which owns Mirror Groups Newspapers (MGN), said: "Our initial view of the lengthy judgment is that the basis used for calculating damages is incorrect and we are therefore considering whether to seek permission to appeal.Trinity Mirror, which owns Mirror Groups Newspapers (MGN), said: "Our initial view of the lengthy judgment is that the basis used for calculating damages is incorrect and we are therefore considering whether to seek permission to appeal.
In February, Trinity Mirror, which owns the Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and the People, published a "sincere and unreserved" apology for the voicemail interception, saying it "was unlawful and should never have happened".In February, Trinity Mirror, which owns the Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and the People, published a "sincere and unreserved" apology for the voicemail interception, saying it "was unlawful and should never have happened".
AnalysisAnalysis
BBC legal correspondent Clive ColemanBBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman
The law on breach of privacy is pretty new.The law on breach of privacy is pretty new.
There was no right to privacy that could be enforced in English law until the 1998 Human Rights Act created it.There was no right to privacy that could be enforced in English law until the 1998 Human Rights Act created it.
In the early 1990s, the actor Gordon Kaye tried to sue for breach of privacy when, following serious injuries sustained in a car accident, a journalist entered his hospital room by deception and took photographs.In the early 1990s, the actor Gordon Kaye tried to sue for breach of privacy when, following serious injuries sustained in a car accident, a journalist entered his hospital room by deception and took photographs.
The Court of Appeal lamented the fact that there was no right to privacy and urged Parliament to act.The Court of Appeal lamented the fact that there was no right to privacy and urged Parliament to act.
Since the Human Rights Act there have been relatively few claims for breach of privacy that have fought to a conclusion and damages awards by judges have been modest.Since the Human Rights Act there have been relatively few claims for breach of privacy that have fought to a conclusion and damages awards by judges have been modest.
Naomi Campbell won a mere £3,500 in damages when she sued the Mirror over its publication of pictures of her leaving a drug rehabilitation centre.Naomi Campbell won a mere £3,500 in damages when she sued the Mirror over its publication of pictures of her leaving a drug rehabilitation centre.
Until today, the highest award by a judge was £60,000 to Max Mosley after the News of the World published a story about a sex party he had attended. The paper falsely claimed it had had a Nazi theme.Until today, the highest award by a judge was £60,000 to Max Mosley after the News of the World published a story about a sex party he had attended. The paper falsely claimed it had had a Nazi theme.
Mr Justice Mann has found a formula for calculating damages for breach of privacy that takes place over a period of years.Mr Justice Mann has found a formula for calculating damages for breach of privacy that takes place over a period of years.
'Lonely place''Lonely place'
The damages dwarf those awarded to former Formula 1 boss Max Mosley, who successfully sued the now defunct News of the World in 2008.The damages dwarf those awarded to former Formula 1 boss Max Mosley, who successfully sued the now defunct News of the World in 2008.
He was awarded £60,000, previously the biggest sum awarded by a UK court in a privacy case.He was awarded £60,000, previously the biggest sum awarded by a UK court in a privacy case.
Following the ruling, Ms Frost said she was "relieved" the case was over and the ruling was "closure" for her.Following the ruling, Ms Frost said she was "relieved" the case was over and the ruling was "closure" for her.
Phone hacking had left her unable to trust the "closest people in my life", she said, adding: "When you lose trust in your friends and family, it is a very lonely place to be."Phone hacking had left her unable to trust the "closest people in my life", she said, adding: "When you lose trust in your friends and family, it is a very lonely place to be."
Solicitors for Ms Frost said the impact of the hacking on her had been "sustained and intrusive", and she "reluctantly" accepted she may never know the full extent of the unlawful activities by MGN journalists.Solicitors for Ms Frost said the impact of the hacking on her had been "sustained and intrusive", and she "reluctantly" accepted she may never know the full extent of the unlawful activities by MGN journalists.
'Gross intrusion''Gross intrusion'
James Heath, from Ms Frost's solicitors Atkins Thomson, said phone hacking by MGN journalists had been "widespread, institutionalised and long standing", resulting in "gross intrusion" into the lives of the victims.James Heath, from Ms Frost's solicitors Atkins Thomson, said phone hacking by MGN journalists had been "widespread, institutionalised and long standing", resulting in "gross intrusion" into the lives of the victims.
Mr Gascoigne was described by his lawyer as being "delighted" with the result.Mr Gascoigne was described by his lawyer as being "delighted" with the result.
He was "relieved" to have discovered that his private information had been hacked and not leaked by "someone close to him", his solicitor added.He was "relieved" to have discovered that his private information had been hacked and not leaked by "someone close to him", his solicitor added.
The former England international told the hearing that hacking had left him "scared to speak to anybody" on the phone.The former England international told the hearing that hacking had left him "scared to speak to anybody" on the phone.
He said the ordeal had "ruined his life".He said the ordeal had "ruined his life".
He had complained about 18 articles published by Mirror Newspapers, all of which were accepted to have been the product of illegal activity.He had complained about 18 articles published by Mirror Newspapers, all of which were accepted to have been the product of illegal activity.
Not believedNot believed
His own family had not believed his phone was being hacked, Mr Gascoigne said, while his therapist had told him he was "paranoid" and "going through a mental disorder".His own family had not believed his phone was being hacked, Mr Gascoigne said, while his therapist had told him he was "paranoid" and "going through a mental disorder".
Anjlee Saigol, a solicitor who represented Ms Gulati and Mr Ashworth, said they were "extremely happy" with the decision.Anjlee Saigol, a solicitor who represented Ms Gulati and Mr Ashworth, said they were "extremely happy" with the decision.
"The judge noted how relationships were lost, problems within marriages exacerbated and personal difficulties made worse due to MGN's conduct," she said."The judge noted how relationships were lost, problems within marriages exacerbated and personal difficulties made worse due to MGN's conduct," she said.
Christopher Hutchings, solicitor for Ms Alcorn, said the judgement should encourage "ordinary people who have found themselves to be victims of phone hacking to take steps to bring the offending parts of the media to account".Christopher Hutchings, solicitor for Ms Alcorn, said the judgement should encourage "ordinary people who have found themselves to be victims of phone hacking to take steps to bring the offending parts of the media to account".
Hacked Off, the campaign group formed in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, said it predicted there would be hundreds of further claims.Hacked Off, the campaign group formed in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, said it predicted there would be hundreds of further claims.
It also predicted the Mirror Group had underestimated the amount it needed to set aside for compensation "by a factor of ten".It also predicted the Mirror Group had underestimated the amount it needed to set aside for compensation "by a factor of ten".