Almost exactly 24 hours after the trial was due to begin The Sun has reached a settlement agreement with Lord Watson and Prince Harry to avoid trial over allegations of phone hacking, illegal activity and a cover up at The Sun and The News of the World.

As part of the agreement, and after many years of denial, The Sun has finally admitted that The Sun was indeed engaged in unlawful activity.

Speaking from court, Hacked Off Board Director Emma Jones said,

“It is a humiliating day for The Sun and the senior executives at News Group Newspapers, who have finally admitted that allegations of illegality made against the publisher are true.  News Group has now spent over a billion pounds – funds which could have been put to much better use supporting journalism – fighting allegations which they have now largely admitted were accurate.

“The Sun has spent years denigrating the individuals and campaigners – including Hacked Off – who have alleged illegal activity at the newspaper and forced 1300 people through legal action to uphold their rights.

“Today, The Sun’s targets have been vindicated.

“It is now clear that the public and Parliament were lied to by the newspaper and its publisher, as part of the most extraordinary corporate cover up in living memory.

“The Sun’s claims of innocence formed part of the broader press campaign against independent regulation and Leveson Part Two.  Now we have confirmation – from the publisher itself – that this was fabrication, the Prime Minister must get on with robust policy on press accountability without further delay.”

ENDS

NGN's apology:

NGN's APOLOGY TO THE CLAIMANTS

NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.

NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World. NGN further apologisesto the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, in particular during his younger years. We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the Duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages. It is also acknowledged, without any admission of illegality, that NGN's response to the 2006 arrests and subsequent actions were regrettable.

NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to Lord Watson for the unwarranted intrusion carried out into his private life during his time in Government by the News of the World during the period 2009- 2011. Thisincludes him being placed undersurveillance in 2009 by journalists at the News of the World and those instructed by them. NGN also acknowledges and apologises for the adverse impact this had on Lord Watson's family and has agreed to pay him substantial damages.

In addition, in 2011 News International received information that information was being passed covertly to Lord Watson from within News International. We now understand that this information was false, and Lord Watson was not in receipt of any such confidential information. NGN apologises fully and unequivocally for this.

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