Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail, has hailed a High Court ruling as an 'overwhelming victory' for the newspaper and a 'magnificent vindication' of its journalism. The judgment, delivered by Mr Justice Nicklin, dismissed all 97 allegations made against the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday by the claimants.
Judge clears journalists of misconduct
In a statement, a spokesperson for Associated Newspapers said: 'Mr Justice Nicklin today cleared the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, and dismissed every single one of the 97 allegations made by the claimants. In every case, the Judge accepted the honesty of our journalists’ evidence on how they sourced their stories.' The ruling marks the end of a four-year legal battle that saw the newspaper accused of unethical practices such as placing bugs in cars and homes, intercepting phone calls, and illicitly accessing bank accounts.
Allegations described as 'lurid' and 'preposterous'
Associated Newspapers described the allegations as 'lurid' and 'preposterous,' stating that no credible evidence was ever presented to support them. The publisher claimed the case was a 'fishing expedition' by the claimants and their legal teams in a 'politically motivated campaign to muzzle the free press.' The statement added: 'The reputations of our decent and hard-working journalists were terribly impugned, and today they have been exonerated.'
Publisher to seek recovery of costs
The legal action cost more than £50 million in legal fees, which Associated Newspapers says wasted valuable court time. The publisher confirmed it will seek to recover costs incurred while defending against what it called 'egregious litigation.' The statement concluded: 'We will look to resolve outstanding issues, including the recovery of the costs we have incurred while defending ourselves against this egregious litigation.'
