(BBC) – These are the dying days of what has become known as the “hacking scandal”.
The latest judge to grapple with sprawling allegations of wrongdoing at newspapers has handed down a devastating verdict on the evidence presented by the Duke of Sussex and his co-claimants.
Judge Mr Justice Nicklin found the group had failed to prove the allegations of unlawful information gathering they made against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.
The publisher’s defence that there was no wrongdoing was vindicated.
Dozens of journalists have been believed over their accusers. They include veteran Daily Mail crime correspondent, Stephen Wright, who told the court he was “devastated” by the allegation he targeted Baroness Doreen Lawrence with surveillance worthy of a police inquiry.
In a joint statement released shortly after the ruling, Prince Harry and Baroness Lawrence called the decision a “whitewash”. The prince’s lawyers have not yet mentioned an appeal.
