High Court Told Missing Evidence in Daily Mail Case Is 'Stark in the Extreme'
The High Court has heard that the amount of lost or destroyed documents relating to the Daily Mail publisher's use of private investigators is described as "stark in the extreme." This revelation came during closing submissions in a multimillion-pound case against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), which denies all allegations of unlawful information gathering.
Claimants Argue Lost Documents Conceal Vast Scale of Alleged Activities
David Sherborne, the leading barrister for the claimants, asserted that the court should conclude "the true scale" of unlawful information gathering at ANL "was enormous." He highlighted that thousands of invoices underpinning payments to private investigators have been destroyed or not located, creating a significant gap between known payments and disclosed evidence.
Sherborne pointed to a box of records, dubbed "Pandora's box," which was found by chance last year and contained payments to private investigators. He cited examples where surviving documents linked to alleged unlawful activity, such as a draft story about actor Sadie Frost's ectopic pregnancy and an email with flight details of Prince Harry's former girlfriend, Chelsy Davy.
Publisher Defends Disclosure Efforts Amid Allegations
ANL responded in its closing submissions by stating it had offered a "demonstrably conscientious and generous approach to disclosure," handing over more than 2,700 documents. The publisher argued that the claimants initially made "headline-grabbing allegations" in hopes of forcing a settlement, but its robust defense has led to many allegations being struck out or abandoned.
The case involves seven high-profile claimants, including Prince Harry, Elton John, and Doreen Lawrence, who accuse ANL of using unlawful techniques like hacking and phone tapping. The legal team is now focusing on four journalists: Katie Nicholl, Rebecca English, Stephen Wright, and Nicole Lampert.
Ongoing Dispute Over Private Investigator's Role
Both sides continue to dispute the role of private investigator Gavin Burrows, who made alleged confessions in a 2021 witness statement only to later claim it was forged by former phone hacker Graham Johnson. The case underscores broader concerns about privacy and media practices, with the trial expected to conclude soon after further arguments.
