Prince Harry has urged authorities to take action and condemned Piers Morgan following the resolution of the remaining portions of his phone-hacking lawsuit against the Daily Mirror's publisher. He asserted that the former editor was fully aware of the illicit activities taking place.
In December, the Duke of Sussex secured a significant victory in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), with a court awarding him £140,600 in damages after determining that his phone had been hacked to a limited extent from late 2003 to April 2009.
After a highly publicized trial, during which Harry became the first senior royal to be cross-examined in a courtroom in over a century, the landmark judgment revealed "widespread and habitual" phone hacking by MGN from 2006 to 2011, even during the Leveson inquiry into media standards.
On Friday, Harry condemned Morgan's ongoing attacks against him and called for action, citing Mr. Justice Fancourt's ruling that Morgan, who served as the Mirror's editor from 1995 to 2004, and other senior executives were aware of the phone hacking.
In a statement following the December judgment, Harry urged authorities, including the financial regulator, the Metropolitan police, and the Crown Prosecution Service, to investigate and pursue charges against both the company and those who violated the law.
Reacting vehemently, Morgan denied any knowledge of phone hacking during his tenure as editor, accusing Harry of lacking truthfulness and of attempting to undermine the British monarchy alongside his wife, the Duchess of Sussex.
In a statement delivered by his barrister David Sherborne on Friday, Harry reiterated the call for upholding the rule of law and emphasized that Morgan, as editor, was fully aware of the situation, as confirmed by the judge's ruling.
Harry further remarked that the Mirror's publisher had recognized its inability to present Morgan as a credible witness during the trial, highlighting Morgan's disregard for the court's decision and his persistent attacks thereafter.
Engaged in legal disputes with other media entities and the Home Office, Harry reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing positive change through his endeavors.
Morgan later responded, echoing Harry's condemnation of invasive intrusions into the royal family's private lives for financial gain, expressing hope that such actions would cease.
During a London hearing on Friday, Sherborne disclosed that MGN would provide Harry with a substantial additional sum in damages along with covering his legal expenses, including an interim payment of £400,000.
An MGN spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating that it offers clarity for the business to move forward from past events for which they have apologized.
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