Judge warns Harry in phone-hacking case

A judge in the UK has issued a warning in the latest ruling in Prince Harry’s phone hacking case.

IN LONDON

A judge has warned Prince Harry that his phone-hacking case against the publisher of The Sun is consuming too much court time and absorbing “more than an appropriate share of the court’s resources”.

The Duke of Sussex claims that he was the victim of phone hacking by journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN), and is one of a number of people bringing cases over claims of unlawful information gathering.

The publisher has denied unlawful activity occurred at The Sun.

A judge has issued a warning in Harry’s phone-hacking case. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

Both legal teams were criticised by Mr Justice Fancourt in a preliminary ruling on Friday, telling them the legal battle resembled “a campaign between two obdurate but well-resourced armies”.

“I have previously indicated to the parties that this individual claim … though it raises, important issues, is starting to absorb more than an appropriate share of the court’s resources, contrary to the requirement in the overriding objective to deal with cases justly and at a proportionate cost,” the judge said.

“It is now doing so. The claim at times resembles more than an entrenched front in a campaign between two obdurate but well-resourced armies than a claim for misuse of private information.

“It is unsatisfactory to say the least that the court should be faced a second time with having to resolve such a large extent of disputed material on amendments to a statement of case.”

He also said that his ruling had been made “as short as reasonably possible” in light of preparations for the upcoming trial, which is scheduled to take place at the high court in January next year.

The judge granted permission for Harry’s lawyers to make some amendments to his case, and also upheld certain objections made by NGN.

Harry at a Sentebale reception and panel discussion at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa this week. Picture: Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale

Harry is currently in the midst of a flurry of solo trips, which began with a jam-packed few days in New York City before he set off back to London to present at the annual WellChild Awards and then flew to Lesotho on Tuesday.

The visit – his first time back in Southern Africa in five years – included a reunion with Prince Seeiso, with whom he co-founded his charity, Sentebale, in 2006, to help support children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana living with (or at risk) from HIV.

The prince will be undertaking engagements associated with Sentebale over the next week, visiting centres and showcasing the charity’s work to new and existing donors.

Originally published as Judge warns Harry in phone-hacking case