...as do Mathew Horne and Keith Allen

Catherine Tate, Mathew Horne and Keith Allen have received ‘substantial’ damages and public apologies from newspapers for phone hacking and other unlawful practices.

The comics were among a number of celebrities who settled their cases with Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun and previously News of the World  in the High Court this morning.

Queen Of Oz star Tate, who took the action under her real surname Ford, claimed that her voicemail messages had been intercepted by journalists who could then listen to information left by her family, close friends and close professional associates.

She identified a ‘significant number’ of articles published  between 2005 and 2011, which she asserted contained her private information and caused her distress.

In the High Court, NGN’s lawyers issued an apology for ‘the distress caused to her by the invasion of her privacy by individuals working for or on behalf of the News Of The World. The defendant acknowledges that such activity should never have taken place, and that it had no right to intrude into the private life of the Claimant in this way.’

Twig Clarke, who was Tate’s partner at the time, and father of their daughter, also brought action. 

Meanwhile, Horne  who co-starred with Tate on her sketch show as well as taking the lead in Gavin & Stacey – had also claimed his voicemail was hacked by Sun and News Of The World journalists and won a similar apology.

However NGN admitted liability only over stories in the now-defunct Sunday tabloid, not The Sun.

According to court papers: ‘Mr Horne further pleaded that, as a result of the defendant’s articles, he became paranoid and suspicious as to who might be the source of the private information published in the defendant’s newspapers. Mr Horne asserted that the level of intrusion was significant, and this caused him considerable distress. Mr Horne further alleged that the publication of the articles had a detrimental impact on his reputation and his relationships with friends and family.’

Allen issued proceedings against NGN for misuse of his private information in 2021 and again won an apology over News Of The World hacking

Following the hearing, Mr Allen said: ‘I am so grateful to have received a public apology from NGN. As it is the season of goodwill, might I take this opportunity to wish NGN a Merry Christmas.’

Other celebrities who today won damages and an apology after suing the company through law firm Hamlins  included former Spice Girl Mel C, Davinia Douglass, a survivor of the 7 July 2004 terror attacks in London, Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, DJs Chris Moyles and Jason King, model Catalina Guirado and, actor and musician Rafferty Law, the son of actors Jude Law and Sadie Frost.

Mel C said: ‘To see these publications being held accountable goes some way to help compensate the damage to not only myself but the friends, family and colleagues around me who were also affected.’

Ms Douglass said that the court action ‘has been a very emotional and difficult process that brought back many memories of what was a very dark and challenging period of my life. I am relieved that my claim has finally been settled by NGN.’

Hamlins’ media disputes partner, Christopher Hutchings, said: ‘We are happy to have obtained public apologies on behalf of our clients today. The impact of the publication of intrusive, private information can be long-lasting, and Hamlins continues its commitment to uncovering media wrongdoing for its clients. 

‘A public apology acknowledging the considerable distress and lasting damage caused can be a powerful form of vindication for claimants. We are pleased NGN has been held to account for its unlawful actions."

Trade website Press Gazette reported in 2021 that the hacking scandal had cost Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp more than £1billion over ten years.

Published: 5 Dec 2023