Paul Dacre to Testify in Prince Harry’s High-Profile Trial Against Daily Mail

Basio badr

ago 31 minutes

Former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre is set to testify in a significant trial involving Prince Harry and other prominent figures. The high-profile lawsuit addresses allegations of unlawful information gathering by Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail.

Trial Details and Key Figures

The high court announced that the trial is scheduled to commence on January 19. Alongside Dacre, former Mail on Sunday editor Peter Wright may also be called as a defense witness. This trial includes six claimants: Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Liz Hurley, Doreen Lawrence, and Sir Simon Hughes.

Allegations Against ANL

ANL stands accused of unlawfully commissioning activities that include:

Hiring private investigators to install listening devices
“Blagging” private records
Accessing private phone conversations

In pre-trial discussions, David Sherborne, representing the claimants, suggested that Dacre’s testimony will be crucial. He addressed Dacre’s previous contributions during the 2011-2012 Leveson inquiry, which focused on press standards.

Legal Context and Concerns

Antony White KC, representing ANL, emphasized the need for Dacre and Wright to address critical allegations early in the trial. However, Justice Nicklin cautioned the legal teams against transforming the case into a broad public inquiry. He expressed concerns about maintaining focus and avoiding unexpected complications during witness examinations.

Use of Evidence

The claimants have been granted limited access to records held by private investigator Stephen Whittamore. These records document interactions with journalists and were previously reviewed during the Leveson inquiry. The claimants argued that restrictions on the use of these notebooks create an unlevel playing field.

Implications and Costs

This trial, with estimated legal costs reaching £38 million, is projected to last nine weeks. The implications for both the claimants and ANL could significantly impact the media’s future practices regarding privacy and lawful information gathering.

The upcoming testimonies, particularly that of Paul Dacre, will be pivotal in unraveling the intricate web of accusations against the Daily Mail publisher.