Steve Coogan wins damages over phone-hacking
Written by News on 04/10/2017
Steve Coogan has received a six-figure sum from the publisher of the Daily Mirror over illegal phone-hacking.
The Mirror Group Newspapers admitted to illegally listening to the writer, actor and comedian’s voicemail messages to get scoops which were used in 62 articles across the group.
"MGN acknowledges that Mr Coogan was the target of unlawful activities and that these activities were concealed until years later," a lawyer for the company said in a statement to the London High Court.
Speaking after the High Court judgement, Coogan confirmed he would give most of the undisclosed six-figure sum to good causes and that the settlement provided "vindication".
The actor, best known for playing Alan Partridge, is one of many celebrity victims of phone-hacking to have received damages from the group which owns the Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People.
These include former England manager Kevin Keegan, actor Patsy Kensit and former home secretary Charles Clarke.
"MGN apologises to Mr Coogan and accepts that he and other victims should not have been denied the truth for so long," MGN’s lawyer said.
The phone-hacking scandal erupted in 2011 when it was revealed that the News of the World, a rival of the Sunday Mirror, had hacked the voicemails of teenage murder victim Milly Dowler.
Its proprietor Rupert Murdoch closed down the newspaper and Prime Minister David Cameron ordered a public inquiry into the ethics and practices of the press.
MGN has put aside nearly £50m to cover damages associated with the hacking scandal.
(c) Sky News 2017: Steve Coogan wins damages over phone-hacking
