Private Investigator Confesses to 'Unlawful Stuff' for Mail Titles in Prince Harry Case
An American private investigator has given startling evidence at the High Court, admitting he engaged in "unlawful stuff" related to Prince Harry while working for the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. The testimony forms a crucial part of an ongoing trial where several high-profile figures are suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over alleged unlawful information gathering.
Vague Recollections of Illegal Activities
Dan Portley-Hanks, known as "Detective Danno", appeared as a witness on Tuesday, stating he cannot recall exactly what unlawful activities he conducted concerning the Duke of Sussex. The 79-year-old investigator explained in his witness statement that he worked for ANL titles from the early 1990s until the early 2010s, becoming what he described as an "independent supplier of data to British tabloid reporters" from around 1993.
Mr Hanks recalled: "I recall that I did stuff for the Mail On Sunday and Daily Mail in relation to Prince Harry. I know that I did unlawful stuff on him, but I cannot recall what exactly." He became a private investigator following his release from jail in 1979 and claimed the Mail titles became his "best client and the biggest payer", receiving substantial work from journalists Caroline Graham and Sharon Churcher.
Broader Allegations Against Associated Newspapers
The trial sees Prince Harry joined by Sir Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence among the claimants alleging they were subjected to unlawful information gathering by the publisher. ANL strongly denies all wrongdoing and is vigorously defending the claims, with barrister Antony White KC arguing the claimants have failed to provide evidence supporting these allegations.
Regarding Mr Hanks' work for other public figures, he recalled doing "stuff" for Sir Elton John that involved obtaining contact information for the singer and his partner. He also claimed to have done "something" involving actress Liz Hurley, though again stated he cannot remember the specifics of what this entailed.
Serious Claims About Police Corruption and Epstein Connections
In more detailed testimony, Mr Hanks alleged that journalist Sharon Churcher asked him to send money to a former police officer, which was then used to pay a serving officer for access to confidential files related to Jeffrey Epstein. He further claimed he was instructed to trace one of the paedophile financier's victims, identified as "Virginia", stating the Mail On Sunday was willing to spend significant money to identify and track her down.
Mr Hanks described his investigative methods: "All I needed was a name or a phone number, and I could find a target's contact and other private details, usually within minutes." This capability formed the basis of his work for the newspaper titles over two decades.
Publisher's Strong Denial and Counter-Arguments
Antony White KC, representing ANL, presented written submissions strongly contesting Mr Hanks' allegations. The barrister highlighted inconsistencies in timing, noting Mr Hanks claimed to have come forward to help claimants in 2021, while Prince Harry stated he became aware of a confession allegedly made by the investigator in 2020.
Mr White argued there was an "inability on the part of the claimants to evidence these so-called confessions" by Mr Hanks, suggesting any purported evidence might have been obtained through financial inducements and threats. Regarding the Epstein-related claims, he maintained documents were sourced from exhibits placed on the public record in civil proceedings and provided no evidence of unlawful information gathering.
The barrister concluded: "No document has been produced capable of supporting the allegation of corruption. Mr Hanks' evidence is lacking in any of the specificity which should be expected to support such serious allegations." He dismissed claims involving Liz Hurley as "entirely baseless" and those concerning Sir Elton John as "groundless", describing both as unsupported by evidence before the court.
Trial Proceedings and Expected Conclusion
The trial before Mr Justice Nicklin continues with proceedings scheduled to conclude in March. A written judgment will follow at a later date, potentially delivering significant implications for media practices and privacy rights in the United Kingdom. The case represents one of the most substantial legal challenges to newspaper publishing methods in recent years, with outcomes likely to influence future regulation and journalistic standards across the industry.
