Soap stars and TV personalities are among 16 people who have received undisclosed damages and an apology from News Group Newspapers (NGN) over phone hacking.
None of the celebrities were at London’s High Court on Thursday for the settlement of their claims for misuse of private information, which involved their lawyers reading out agreed statements before Mr Justice Mann.
The list included Coronation Street stars Kym Marsh, Rajan Harkishindas (known as Jimmi Harkishin), Alan Halsall, Lucy-Jo Hudson, Kate Ford, Samia Ghadie and Leslie Heseltine (known as Les Dennis).
Their counsel David Sherborne said NGN had agreed to pay damages and apologised for the distress caused by individuals working for or on behalf of the News of the World.
The settlements were on the basis that NGN “makes no admission of liability” in relation to their allegations of voicemail interception or other unlawful information gathering at The Sun.
Former boxer Frank Bruno’s solicitor-advocate Hanna Basha said NGN had agreed to pay him “substantial” damages.
“It is Mr Bruno’s case that he was extremely upset by the publication of the articles, and that their publication caused him to become paranoid and suspicious as to who might be the source of the information contained in them, which put pressure on his mental health and relationships with friends and family.”
Anthony Hudson QC, for NGN – which made no admission of liability in relation to Bruno’s allegations of voicemail interception or unlawful information gathering at The Sun – said it offered its sincere apologies and added it was never NGN’s intention “to cause him any harm”.
Bruno said later: “I always believed that there was something strange going on with my phone, but no-one believed me.
“For years I said I was being hacked, but people just said, ‘Poor old Frank, he’s really lost it this time’.
“I am glad that News Group Newspapers has finally apologised to me for the intrusions into my private life and the distress which it caused me and those close to me over a number of years.
“No amount of money will never pay for the stress this caused, the sleepless nights, and the countless rows I had with people who I thought had leaked stories to the press.
“The people who did this are the lowest of the low. Gutter press is a good description. I hope they have now learnt some lessons.
“My mum used to say that we need to forgive those who have wronged us and, despite what I have been through, I will try and put this horrible episode behind me.
“I am thankful to those around me who supported me in my fight.”
The others who settled claims are Emmerdale actor Ben Freeman, model and TV personality Nancy Moir, singer Samuel Preston, comedian Bob Mortimer, Carole Caplin – who was Cherie Blair’s fitness trainer, talent manager Christopher Herbert, Simon Clegg – former chief executive of the British Olympics Association, and Rupert Lowe – former executive chairman and joint managing director of Southampton FC.
Their settlements were on the basis that there was no admission of liability in relation to allegations of voicemail interception or other unlawful information gathering at The Sun.