The British actor has filed a lawsuit against News Group Newspaper (NGN), the publisher of The Sun and the defunct News Of The World, alleging illegal information gathering.
Hugh Grant has alleged in court that the Sun newspaper obtained private information through “bugging, landline tapping, and phone hacking” using “burglaries to order” and “breaking.”
In a witness statement read as part of his lawsuit against News Group Newspapers (NGN). The publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, the 62-year-old actor made the allegations.
The British star attended NGN’s final High Court hearing in London to have his and Prince Harry’s claims dismissed.
The Duke of Sussex, aged 38, is suing NGN over the alleged illegal collection of information at the two titles.
In 2012, Grant settled a claim against NGN regarding the illegal collection of information at the News Of The World. He is now pursuing a similar legal action against The Sun.
NGN closed the News Of The World in 2011 owing to phone-hacking but denies misconduct at The Sun.
In a witness statement, the Love Actually actor stated, “My claim concerns unlawful acts committed by The Sun, including burglaries to order, the breaking of private property to obtain private information through bugging, landline tapping, and phone hacking, as well as the use of private investigators to do these and other illegal things against me.
He cited his 2011 Leveson Inquiry testimony. He detailed his London flat break-in.
After Grant claimed the front door was pried off its hinges, The Sun “detailed the interior.”
He stated, “I had no evidence that this burglary was committed or commissioned by the press, much less The Sun.”
The actor added that he was informed by a private investigator in early 2022 and shown “evidence that The Sun had directly targeted unlawful activity against me and my associates,” which prompted him to file his lawsuit.
He stated that the documents included invoices and payments made to private investigators and that they covered the duration of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards and ethics.
Grant stated in his statement, “It was particularly shocking to discover that The Sun had targeted me and my associates. Including members of my family who were not in the public eye, during the Leveson Inquiry.
“I found it baffling that The Sun committed these illegal acts against me. While I was preparing to testify before a public inquiry on press ethics,” the author writes.
He added, “I am astounded by what I have uncovered, without any assistance from the defendant. Regarding illegal acts committed by The Sun against me”.
The defendant clearly thinks it’s above the law and is using the law to cover up and conceal its wrongdoing.
“I am adamant that this cannot occur and that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.”
Grant, a prominent press-ethics activist and member of the Hacked Off group should have known he had a claim against The Sun much earlier, according to NGN’s solicitors, and he waited too long to initiate the latest legal action.
NGN has previously resolved several claims related to The News Of The World’s phone-hacking scandal.
Anthony Hudson KC, representing NGN, argued in court on Tuesday that Prince Harry and Grant were “at the forefront” of claims against the publisher for hacking and therefore could not have neglected to realize they had a potential damages claim much earlier.
After Thursday’s hearing, Mr. Justice Fancourt will decide if their claims will go to trial in January.
The judge is anticipated to render a decision at a later date.
