Actress and model Elizabeth Hurley delivered a deeply emotional testimony at the High Court in London, where she accused the publisher of the Daily Mail of conducting unlawful surveillance on her private life. Hurley, who appeared alongside her son Damian, had to pause multiple times to compose herself as she described the profound impact of what she called "deeply hurtful and damaging" articles published about her.
Allegations of Intrusive Surveillance
In a formal witness statement submitted to the court, Hurley detailed a series of alleged unlawful acts by Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), which publishes both the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. The actress claimed these actions included "landline tapping my phones and recording my live telephone conversations, placing surreptitious mics on my home windows, stealing my medical information when I was pregnant … and other monstrous, staggering things."
Hurley specifically highlighted the discovery of microphones placed on her dining room windowsill, stating "There were microphones on the windowsill of my dining room. Yes, there were leaks, but they were not from my friends." She expressed how the realisation that her landlines had been tapped left her feeling "crushed" and devastated.
Legal Battle Over Fifteen Articles
The legal claim focuses on fifteen articles published between 2002 and 2011 that Hurley alleges were based on information obtained through unlawful means. She is part of a group of seven high-profile individuals bringing similar claims against the newspaper publisher, joining figures including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, and campaigner Doreen Lawrence.
During cross-examination, Antony White, the lead barrister representing ANL, challenged Hurley's allegations. He suggested that the information in the contested articles had been obtained through lawful means and legitimate sources. White presented evidence suggesting that friends of Hurley had willingly provided information to journalists and pointed to interviews where Hurley herself had discussed personal matters publicly.
Publisher's Defence and Counterarguments
Associated Newspapers has consistently denied any wrongdoing, previously describing the claims as "lurid" and "preposterous." In their written submissions to the court, ANL's legal team argued that Hurley's allegations were "unsupported by the evidence before the court" and represented "baseless" claims.
The publisher maintains that the stories in question were obtained "entirely legitimately from information variously provided by contacts of the journalists responsible, including individuals in the Duke of Sussex’s social circle, press officers and publicists, freelance journalists, photographers and prior reports."
Timing of the Legal Action
A significant aspect of ANL's defence centres on the timing of the legal claims. The publisher argues that the claimants waited too long before bringing their case, suggesting they became aware of potential claims after the October 2016 cut-off date for legal action. During questioning, White repeatedly pressed Hurley on why she hadn't made inquiries earlier if she had genuine concerns about ANL's activities.
Hurley responded that she hadn't kept up with developments from the Hacked Off campaign and maintained she only learned about serious allegations against ANL at a later date. The emotional toll of the proceedings was particularly evident when Hurley discussed her desire to protect her son, Damian, during her testimony.
Broader Context of Media Privacy Cases
This case forms part of a wider legal battle involving multiple high-profile figures against Associated Newspapers. Prince Harry has already given evidence alleging that the publisher hacked phones and obtained information through deception about him and those close to him. The Duke of Sussex has attended all four days of the trial so far, with his spokesperson stating he was present "to support, and show solidarity with, the other claimants."
The other claimants in the group action include Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, campaigner Doreen Lawrence, former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes, and actress Sadie Frost. The trial continues as the court examines these serious allegations about media practices and privacy invasion.
