David Tennant Settles Phone Hacking Claim Case

Granted damages and apology from News Group Newspapers

Chiswick-based actor David Tennant has accepted substantial undisclosed damages and an apology from News Group Newspapers to settle his High Court claim over phone-hacking at the former News of the World.

Tennant sued the owners of the defunct News of the World over alleged phone hacking issuing a claim for compensation last March.

The paper closed in 2011, following the disclosure that the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler had been hacked. It was then revealed that the phone voicemails of a number of high profile individuals had been hacked.

The NoW scandal led to the establishment of the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, an MPs' inquiry and the launch of three police investigations into alleged widespread phone hacking and corruption.

News Group Newspapers (NGN) settled Mr Tennant's High Court claim and issued an apology. He was one of six other people to settle claims with NGN this week.

Tennant's lawyer said he was "outraged and shocked" by the invasion of privacy.

NGN made no admission of liability to claims relating to The Sun.

The other claimants were Olympic medallist Colin Jackson, actress Sophia Myles, party planner Fran Cutler, fashion designer Jess Morris and footballer David James's ex-wife, Tanya Frayne.

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson - who later became director of communications for then Prime Minister David Cameron - was jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to hack phones.
Hugh Grant and Charlotte Church were among those who settled claims against the paper over phone-hacking.

February 1, 2018