Phone hacking: Charles Russell Speechlys achieves settlement for celebrity clients from Mirror Group Newspapers

Charles Russell Speechlys can today confirm the settlement of privacy claims for unlawful voicemail interception on behalf of six clients, including TV personalities, Alexander Clunes (known professionally as Martin Clunes), Caroline Quentin, Antony Cotton, Mark Womack and Samantha Womack and businessman Sam Farmer.

Duncan Lamont (Consultant), Gabrielle Shovlin (Associate), Hannah Gornall (Associate) and Sydney Lee (Apprentice) assisted their clients in achieving these successful settlements.

The claims were brought against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) publisher of The Mirror and The People. A settlement has now been agreed and includes an undertaking by MGN not to intercept the Claimants’ voicemail messages, to pay compensation to the Claimants, and join in a statement in open Court to apologise to the Claimants for the misuse of their private information.

The public apologies were made today in the Commercial Court in London. Hannah Gornall and Gabrielle Shovlin were in Court today to read the statements on behalf of the Claimants “for the distress caused to [them] by obtaining private information about [them] and using that information”.

Duncan Lamont, Consultant, Charles Russell Speechlys, says:

“We are pleased that we have been able to assist our clients in resolving their disputes with MGN and that the publisher has made a public apology to our clients”