In a dramatic High Court hearing, the former editor-in-chief of The Mail on Sunday has vehemently denied allegations that he was aware a private investigator was supplying information to the newspaper. Peter Wright, who served as editor from 1998 to 2012, gave evidence as part of a major trial involving claims against the publisher Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
Wright Dismisses Allegations as "Nonsense"
During cross-examination on Monday, barrister David Sherborne, representing a group of high-profile claimants including the Duke of Sussex, Sir Elton John, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, put specific allegations to Mr Wright. The barrister claimed that Mr Wright knew private investigator Gavin Burrows was providing information to The Mail on Sunday through former colleague Paul Henderson.
Mr Wright responded unequivocally: "No, that's nonsense." He went further, telling Mr Sherborne: "Some of this stuff is just incredible. No, you're wrong."
Questioning About Editorial Knowledge and Practices
The barrister pressed Mr Wright about news meetings during the period of alleged unlawful information-gathering, seeking details about how much the editor knew about stories being pitched and commissioned. Mr Wright acknowledged he didn't know every detail, stating: "If your question is, 'Did I know all the details of every phone call they made?' The answer is no."
However, he described his editorial approach: "The question I often asked in our news conferences is: 'How did this come to our attention?'" He explained he would inquire about sources for contentious stories and sometimes challenge stories he believed contained inaccuracies.
When Mr Sherborne suggested Mr Wright "tried to play a hands-on editor," the former editor replied: "Correct."
Denials About Private Investigator Expenditure
Mr Sherborne also challenged Mr Wright's claim that he knew nothing about the use of private investigators in the UK until late 2003. The barrister alleged The Mail on Sunday was "spending hundreds of thousands on private investigators" between 1998 and 2003.
Mr Wright responded: "Well, that's your figure – but no, I wasn't aware." He maintained his position that he had no knowledge of such activities during his tenure as editor.
Surprise About Newsdesk Contact List
In another revelation, Mr Wright told the court he had not seen a shared contacts list for the newsdesk until preparing for this trial. "I had no idea they had a contact list," he testified. "I mean, it's conceivable they had one, but I never saw it, I never used it, I never discussed it."
The Broader Legal Context
This testimony forms part of a significant trial before Mr Justice Nicklin, where ANL is defending against allegations of unlawful information-gathering brought by several household names. The publisher has strongly denied any wrongdoing throughout the proceedings.
The trial, which has seen Prince Harry attend court on multiple occasions, is expected to conclude in March, with a written judgment to follow at a later date. The outcome could have substantial implications for media practices and privacy rights in the United Kingdom.
