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Judge ruled go ahead for claims of phone hacking against UK tabloid

High Court judge Mr. Justice Mann has ruled the go ahead for claims against The Sun newspaper for phone hacking.

News UK, formerly News Group Newspapers (NGN), has settled over 1,000 claims relating to the practice that resulted in the closing of News of the World, sister publication to The Sun. Executives have always claimed there was no hacking activity at The Sun.

The judge said four claimants could amend their cases to include the newspaper for the first time in proceedings against NGN. Two of them are among a number scheduled for trial in July.

The judge also took into account that evidence from those previously convicted of phone hacking at News of the World concerned specific stories in The Sun.

Andy Coulson, former News of the World editor, was found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones while his predecessor Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges when the trial ended in 2014. Brooks returned to her role as chief executive of News UK last year.

Some suing NGN include EastEnders actors Christopher Parker and Brooke Kinsella, designer Pearl Lowe, and Leslie Heseltine, otherwise known as entertainer Les Dennis.

Chris Hutchings, a lead solicitor for claimants of their private voicemail messages being hacked said, “The decision will also affect up to 50 further cases which are about to be commenced against the Defendant and will widen the disclosure of documentation it will have to provide going forward.”

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