Privacy trial judge asks why Piers Morgan has not given evidence

The justice successful a privateness proceedings brought by Prince Harry and others has questioned wherefore astir 30 journalists, including Piers Morgan, person not fixed evidence.

Mr Justice Fancourt said Mr Morgan had precocious had "a bully woody to say" astir telephone hacking "outside the court".

He is among a database of journalists astir which the justice whitethorn person to "make inferences" fixed that they person not appeared successful the witnesser box.

Piers Morgan has repeatedly denied cognition of unlawful activity.

In an interrogation past period with the BBC's Amol Rajan, Mr Morgan said helium had thing to bash with telephone hacking portion editing the Daily Mirror.

The justice besides criticised erstwhile paper enforcement Neil Wallis astir speaking extracurricular of court.

Mr Wallis, who was cleared of telephone hacking, precocious criticised those bringing cases against newspapers successful the BBC documentary Scandalous: Phone Hacking On Trial.

He told that programme: "You person conscionable astir anybody who's ever appeared successful a tabloid paper saying - springiness maine ample wadges of currency please. I deliberation it's really a ineligible scandal."

Mr Justice Fancourt said: "There's a question successful my caput whether immoderate of the individuals connected my database could and should person fixed evidence."

As good arsenic Piers Morgan and Neil Wallis, the database of 29 journalists includes:

One of those mentioned, Eugene Duffy, has died.

The 2 starring barristers successful the case, David Sherborne, and Andrew Green KC, volition code the justice adjacent week successful closing submissions.

They volition marque arguments astir missing witnesses and Mr Justice Fancourt volition person to measurement up allegations made during the lawsuit against those who person not fixed evidence.

The privateness enactment has been brought by Prince Harry, Coronation Street actors Nikki Sanderson and Michael Turner, and Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of the comedian Paul Whitehouse.

In civilian actions specified arsenic this one, each broadside tin marque their ain decisions astir which witnesses to trust connected erstwhile making their case.

Mirror Group Newspapers called a fistful of journalists, but determination has been elaborate grounds astir galore others who person not appeared successful the witnesser box.

The claimants person called a bid of erstwhile reporters, immoderate of them convicted of telephone hacking, who person go whistleblowers.

The judge's comments came arsenic the past witnesses successful the proceedings gave evidence.

The erstwhile Coronation Street prima Michael Turner told the tribunal that appearing successful the witnesser container had taken him to "really acheronian places" but it was clip for him to talk up for himself.

He is suing the steadfast of the Mirror newspapers for utilizing telephone hacking to stitchery stories astir him dating backmost to the 1990s.

Mr Turner said astatine the clip helium suspected friends and colleagues were leaking accusation astir him to newspapers.

"I consciousness I wasted a batch of years alienating a batch of decent radical successful my beingness for privation of trust," helium told the court.

Twenty-eight articles published successful the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror oregon People newspapers often attributed quotes to "pals", "friends" oregon a "Corrie source".

The claimants accidental these phrases are utilized to screen up the information accusation has been taken from intercepted mobile telephone voicemail messages by journalists.

In 1 story, a speech Michael Turner had with a friend, Andy Halsall, was reported by the Mirror arsenic having been overheard successful a pub.

Mr Turner was discussing however intersexual maltreatment allegations had near him devastated, contempt being cleared by a jury, and returning to Coronation Street.

He suggested helium was not overheard due to the fact that helium and his person deliberately chose a quiescent country of the pub distant from members of the public.

He besides said helium spotted the lensman who took the pictures for the communicative successful the backmost of a car with a agelong lens connected the different broadside of the car park.

Repeatedly helium told the tribunal helium believed astatine the clip of the communicative that radical were selling stories astir him.

"It made maine question everything astir who you were associating with and who to trust," helium said.

But present helium suspects his messages had been hacked.

Mirror Group Newspapers has antecedently apologised aft a erstwhile justice ruled that unlawful accusation gathering had been wide astatine the publisher's titles.

However MGN denies allegations made by the 4 claimants astatine the centre of this case, 3 of whom were chosen arsenic typical of hundreds of radical who could bring ineligible cases successful future.

Prince Harry has refused to settee retired of court.