- A former Mail on Sunday editor denied obtaining private medical details through illegal investigative methods.
- The High Court examined notes regarding actress Sadie Frost and a private investigator firm.
- The legal case involves Prince Harry and others alleging unlawful information gathering by Associated Newspapers.
A prominent journalist formerly employed by the Mail on Sunday has rejected claims that she ordered illegal “blagging” of medical records. Katie Nicholl, who served as a royal editor, faced allegations at the High Court involving the personal history of actor Sadie Frost. The court heard that highly sensitive private details were allegedly uncovered through illicit means.
The dispute centers on a legal challenge brought by 7 claimants, including Prince Harry. They allege that Associated Newspapers Ltd utilized unlawful tactics such as hacking and phone tapping over 2 decades. The publisher has consistently dismissed these accusations, labeling them as preposterous falsehoods during the ongoing legal proceedings in London.
Legal representatives for the claimants focused on Nicholl’s 2003 notebooks regarding Frost’s health. These notes contained details of an ectopic pregnancy that Frost had not shared with her own mother. Documents showed references to ultrasound scans and psychiatric visits, which the prosecution claims came from investigators at a firm called ELI.
Payment records from the same period reportedly mention urgent inquiries for Nicholl by the investigation firm. Despite these records, the journalist insisted she never requested medical blags and denied recalling any work with the agency. She maintained her information originated from a freelance colleague who possessed a source within Frost’s inner circle.
The court also scrutinized notes mentioning specific contraception details and emotional states. While lawyers suggested these facts were stolen from voicemails, Nicholl remained firm in her denial. She categorically stated she never intercepted messages and explained the story went unpublished because Frost issued a legal threat and denied the claims.
