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In a dramatic turn of events at the High Court, a former American private investigator has confessed to engaging in “unlawful stuff” concerning Prince Harry while working for the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. This revelation came during legal proceedings initiated by the Duke of Sussex and several other high-profile individuals against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the two tabloids, over alleged privacy violations spanning two decades.
Investigator’s Confession
Dan Portley-Hanks, now 79 years old, provided a written statement that outlined his past work for ANL, which he has been affiliated with since the early 1990s until the early 2010s. Despite acknowledging his involvement in illicit activities, Portley-Hanks admitted he could not recall specific details.
His testimony is part of a broader case in which Prince Harry joins six other prominent claimants, including music legend Sir Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, in accusing ANL of serious breaches of privacy. The publisher has firmly denied any wrongdoing.
Portley-Hanks, who introduced himself as Detective Danno, detailed his journey into private investigation, which began shortly after his release from prison in 1979. Initially working for American news shows, he pivoted to servicing British tabloids in the mid-1990s, quickly becoming a go-to source for information for journalists at the Mail on Sunday. He claimed he was able to locate private details, such as phone numbers, with remarkable speed.
Allegations of Privacy Invasion
In his statement, Portley-Hanks specified the types of information he was asked to gather, revealing his involvement in acquiring phone records and other private details about various celebrity couples, including Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Judd, and Kylie Minogue and Olivier Martinez. He referenced specific Mail on Sunday articles that ran shortly after he supplied this information.
Regarding Prince Harry, he stated, “I recall that I did stuff for the Mail On Sunday and Daily Mail in relation to Prince Harry. I know that I did unlawful stuff on him but I cannot recall what exactly.” His testimony also included a troubling anecdote where he was instructed to send money to a former police officer, which was allegedly used to bribe a serving officer for access to confidential documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Portley-Hanks concluded his statement with a poignant remark, expressing a desire to come forward “to do the right thing before I die,” and admitted that the invasions of privacy he perpetrated caused him significant inner turmoil.
Response from Associated Newspapers
In rebuttal, Antony White KC, representing ANL, stated that the publisher “strongly” denied the claims of unlawful information gathering related to Prince Harry. He pointed to an absence of concrete evidence supporting Portley-Hanks’ confessions, arguing that the claimants have not been able to substantiate their allegations.
White contended that the information regarding corrupt payments to police officers had been misinterpreted, suggesting that the documents cited by Churcher were drawn from publicly available records related to Epstein’s civil proceedings. He maintained that these assertions do not indicate a pattern of unlawful conduct by ANL.
The trial, which has garnered significant public interest, is expected to conclude in March, with a written judgment to follow.
Why it Matters
The testimony from Portley-Hanks marks a significant moment in an ongoing saga that pits the royal family against the press, raising pressing questions about media ethics and the boundaries of privacy. As high-profile individuals like Prince Harry seek accountability from powerful publishing entities, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the relationship between celebrities and the media, potentially reshaping the landscape of privacy laws in the UK. The public’s right to know must be balanced against the individual’s right to privacy, a conversation that is more relevant than ever in today’s digital age.
