A former intelligence officer whose computer was hacked has accepted substantial undisclosed damages from News Group Newspapers.

Ian Hurst brought proceedings at London’s High Court against NGN, publisher of the defunct News of the World, and News UK & Ireland (formerly News International Supply Company) for breach of confidence and misuse of private information.

Hurst (pictured above giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry) served in the Intelligence Corps and the Force Research Unit in Northern Ireland between 1980 and 1991 when he retired.