Ronan Keating has accepted “substantial damages” from News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of the News of the World, over phone hacking. The singer, best known as a member of Boyzone and later as a solo artist, brought legal action in April 2020 claiming his voicemail messages were intercepted by the newspaper’s journalists.
At a High Court hearing in London on Monday, Keating’s lawyer, Ellen Gallagher, told Mr Justice Fancourt that the singer had identified several suspicious articles published between 1996 and 2011 that appeared to contain private information. Gallagher said Keating alleged that his voicemails were intercepted and that journalists obtained his personal details through deception.
Gallagher added that the publications caused Keating to become suspicious of those around him, generating distrust that impacted his relationships and caused “considerable distress and upset”. As part of the settlement, NGN agreed to pay “substantial damages” and cover Keating’s reasonable legal costs, while offering a public apology.
Ben Silverstone, representing NGN, offered apologies for the distress caused by individuals working for the News of the World, acknowledging that “such activity should never have taken place”. However, NGN did not admit liability regarding alleged phone hacking at the Sun.
Speaking after the hearing, Keating said he was “delighted” that NGN accepted responsibility for publishing articles that intruded on his and his family’s private life. He expressed relief at being able to “put this episode behind me and move on”.
