LONDON (AFP) – Football pundit Andy Gray has agreed a settlement of £20,000 in damages plus costs over the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World, News Group Newspapers (NGN) confirmed on Tuesday.
"This concludes the action Andy Gray was taking against NGN over voicemail interception in relation to the News of the World," said a spokeswoman for NGN.
The newspaper group reached a similar agreement earlier this month with actress Sienna Miller, who settled for £100,000 damages and costs.
Lawyers said former Everton striker Gray had fought "tooth and nail" to establish he had been a victim of phone hacking by the News of the World.
"When Andy first contacted the News of the World about this matter it denied any liability," said John Kelly, a partner at Schillings law firm.
"Andy was forced to issue legal proceedings and had to fight tooth and nail to establish that he had been the victim of unlawful phone hacking.
"The News of the World finally threw in the towel in April when it admitted liability for the unlawful interception of Andy's voicemail.
"The News of the World has since that time apologised to Andy and other victims, has agreed that it won't target Andy in this way again and has now agreed to pay Andy substantial damages and his legal costs."
"Andy took these proceedings to prove that he was a victim of unlawful phone hacking and he is pleased that his case has now been resolved," said a spokesman for Gray, who was sacked by Sky over sexist comments made about a female referee.
Gray now presents on TalkSport radio with Richard Keys, who quit Sky Sports over the same sexism row
Source : Yahoo News
