FORMER MP – Scot, George Galloway – is among 37 people said to have settled damages cases with the publishers of the News of the World, following allegations that their phones were hacked into, which led to the paper being closed in July.
The size of Galloway’s payout was undisclosed, but others were made public, including actor, Jude Law (£130,000), politician, Lord Prescott (£40,000) and author and journalist, Joan Smith (£27,500).
Says The Scotsman – in a page lead today – the payout total was £645,000.
The paper adds: “In each case, Michael Silverleaf QC, for News International subsidiary News Group Newspapers, publisher of the defunct News of the World, expressed ‘sincere apologies’ for the damages and distress caused.”
The Herald, which also gives prominence to the story, says a hearing has been set for the 13th of next month to consider a further ten as yet unsettled cases.
