Witness in the Duke of Sussex Legal Action Alleges Admission Was Fabricated

A inquiry agent at the heart of the lawsuit brought by the Duke of Sussex and several claimants targeting the publishing group of the popular tabloid has stated his signature on an earlier testimonial document was a “forgery”, the high court has been told.

The investigator, linked to the most severe accusations of unlawful information gathering made by seven high-profile figures including Elton John and Doreen Lawrence, retracted his supposed statement, saying it was “completely false”.

Background of the Purported Statement

The private eye had reportedly claimed in a testimonial from 2021 that he and his team obtained data by hacking voicemails, tapping home telephones and placing listening devices in cars. He also allegedly claimed he had operated on behalf of the Mail on Sunday.

The media company is alleged by the claimants of performing or hiring for unlawful activities such as employing PIs to place bugs inside vehicles, “blagging” personal files and gaining entry to private phone conversations. The company rejects the accusations and is opposing the legal action.

Withdrawal and New Allegations

Five of the plaintiffs have told the high court they embarked on the lawsuit against the media group based on evidence allegedly obtained by Burrows.

Burrows had before disavowed his alleged statement in last year. In a new lengthy testimonial document made on a recent date, and made public by the court on Tuesday, he reaffirmed his denial, declaring he had never engaged in any illicit operation on behalf of the company.

In the new testimony, he claimed he did “not identify” the alleged witness statement on that date”. He said he was of the opinion it was “drafted by someone else”, that the “signature is not mine”, and did “not accept the accuracy of much of the information”.

The investigator stated: “I do not recognise the earlier testimony of 16 August 2021 and I am convinced that my autograph on that paper is a fake. A lot of it is not composed in my style of speaking. Additionally, the substance of the testimony are mostly false.”

He added that he had “not once” carried out operations for the Mail On Sunday or the daily tabloid, except for one job concerning Sir Richard Branson that “did not involve any illegal activity”.

Circumstances of the Original Testimony

Burrows stated he was on heavy medication after a severe physical assault, and consuming excessive alcohol, when he was approached by Graham Johnson, a whistleblower found guilty of phone hacking, who wanted help with investigation on allegations of interception against newspapers.

He was introduced to a contact, an individual, who was referred to as a legal assistant and was remunerated £600 a session for guidance.

His statement claimed he was advised allegations against publications were probable to be resolved without trial, as the publications did not want the attention or financial burden of a court case, and were referred to to him as a “ideal scheme” and a “easy money”.

The investigator, who claimed he had stopped being employed for newspapers in 2003, said he had informed the former journalist “a hundred times that the publisher were not one of my employers”.

Current Court Status

The witness was at first a witness for the group, which additionally comprises Sadie Frost and several individuals, but is now the focus of disputes about whether or not he will be summoned as a testifier for the proceedings.

Antony White KC, for the publisher, petitioned the court to permit him to interrogate the witness, while another barrister, for the group, made an request to consider his evidence as hearsay.

The presiding officer allowed Sherborne seven days to determine if he wished to seek a court order to summon Burrows, and advised him if Burrows provided testimony that was at odds with the information they had gathered, then he could apply to consider him as “uncooperative”.

A additional preliminary proceeding in the legal action is anticipated to occur before the close of the calendar.