On 26 January 2015, Hugh Grant met Graham Johnson, a disgraced former tabloid journalist, at the KX Gym in Chelsea. Johnson, who had just received a suspended sentence for phone hacking, was recruited by Evan Harris, a former Liberal Democrat MP, to help expose press wrongdoing. This meeting sowed the seeds of Prince Harry's doomed court battle against the Daily Mail's publisher.
The Unlikely Alliance
Johnson, a self-confessed "professional liar," had fabricated stories for tabloids. Harris, once executive director of Grant's Hacked Off campaign, approached Johnson after his court appearance. Johnson agreed to investigate allegations that the Daily Mail had paid Ian Huntley, later convicted of murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, for stories. Grant funded the investigation, though the Soham tip led nowhere.
Operation Bluebird
Johnson and Harris launched Operation Bluebird, targeting the Daily Mail. They trawled old newspapers, approached private investigators, and recruited high-profile subjects like Prince Harry, Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Doreen Lawrence. Johnson sourced funding from Max Mosley's family and James Stunt, paying private investigators with criminal convictions for witness statements.
The Key Witness
Gavin Burrows, a former private investigator, became central to the case. He claimed to have conducted illegal surveillance for the Mail, including tapping Prince Harry's friend's phone and bugging Doreen Lawrence's cafe. Burrows was paid £5,000 monthly retainer. However, he later switched sides, telling the Mail's lawyers his confession was forged. Judge Nicklin said Burrows's credibility was "comprehensively undermined."
The Trial and Collapse
The claim was lodged in October 2022. Despite last-minute settlement rumors, the case went to trial. On Tuesday, Judge Nicklin rejected all claims. He noted inconsistencies in Johnson and Harris's evidence, ruling that their testimony should be approached with caution. Prince Harry, who previously secured payouts from Sun and Mirror publishers, faced humiliating defeat.
Aftermath
Hacked Off distanced itself from Johnson, stating he never worked for the organization. Grant denied paying Johnson for evidence. The group's call for a public inquiry into the Mail's conduct is expected to fail. The focus now shifts to who will pay the newspaper's legal costs.
