Judge bans naming of Mail journalists in Prince Harry, Elton John and Doreen Lawrence privacy action

Mail publisher Associated Newspapers is trying to stop the claims from going to trial.

Prince Harry and Elton John outside High Court for Mail hacking case — Sir Elton John and David Furnish (left) and Prince Harry (right) arrive at the High Court in London on Monday 27 March 2023 for a hearing in their unlawful information gathering action against Mail publisher Associated Newspapers. Pictures: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images and PA Wire/Jordan Pettitt

A High Court judge has allowed the temporary ban on reporting the names of 73 current and former Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday journalists mentioned in the legal action over alleged criminal invasions of privacy brought by Prince Harry and six other high-profile litigants.

Associated Newspapers, which is being sued by Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish and the Mail’s former ally Baroness Doreen Lawrence among others, argued that it would be unfair to disparage the reputations of journalists over historic allegations at this pre-trial stage before it is able to put forward a defence.

The publisher has also argued that the claims are “stale” because they have been brought too late and that they use information that was put under a restriction order in the Leveson inquiry.