Sun Publisher Pays Out To Celebrities Over Unlawful Newsgathering

News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and formerly of News of the World, has made substantial payouts and issued public apologies to a group of celebrities for unlawful information-gathering.

This group of claimants includes notable figures like Melanie Chisholm of the Spice Girls, comedians Catherine Tate and Keith Allen, and radio host Chris Moyles. Apologies were formally presented in the High Court by NGN on Tuesday.

The celebrities accused NGN of intruding into their private lives. Christopher Hutchings from Hamlins law firm, representing the claimants, expressed satisfaction that NGN was held accountable for its actions. The court heard how each claimant received significant damages.

Chisholm detailed how NGN published numerous articles between 1996 and 2009, exposing aspects of her life, including her relationships, mental health, pregnancy, and sexuality. Allen recounted the distress caused by the publication of his private information, suspected to have been acquired through voicemail interception.

Davinia Douglass, a 7/7 terror attack survivor, also formed part of the group, alleging that NGN had used deception to obtain personal information. She said that the settlement brought her relief and closure to a challenging period of her life.

The case is one of many legal challenges NGN has faced over the past decade, involving allegations of illegal information acquisition, including phone hacking and deception. The News of the World, specifically implicated in these practices, was closed in 2011 amidst the hacking scandal.

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