Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar Settle Privacy Claim
15 May 2008
Download Statement in Open Court
In October 2007 photographers for Eliot Press SARL obtained photographs of Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar. The pictures were taken covertly using a long range lens without the knowledge of Hugh, Elizabeth or Arun while they were enjoying a holiday with a group of friends and family on an island in the Maldives. The pictures included some of Elizabeth’s naked son. These pictures were licensed to Big Pictures (UK) Limited who then supplied them to News Group Newspapers and Associated Newspapers. News Group published three of the photographs in the News of the World and Associated published four of the photographs in the Mail on Sunday.
Hugh, Elizabeth and Arun felt their privacy had been shamelessly and indefensibly invaded.
They had no option but to complain to the various parties and proceedings were issued against Big Pictures and Eliot press.
In a statement made today in court, Big Pictures and Eliot press have publicly apologised for the distress caused and accepted that the photographs should not have been taken. This is the first Statement in Open Court in privacy related proceedings.
As a mark of their regret all the parties have agreed to pay substantial damages, totaling £58,000, by way of settlement of this action together with Elizabeth, Hugh and Arun’s legal costs. All damages will be donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Hugh, Elizabeth and Arun said today:
“We do not think it is acceptable to have long range pictures taken of individuals with their friends and family on private land. This photographer had evidently spied on our group for a long time and the pictures, particularly those of children, are reprehensible. We find it incredible that they were taken at all, but even more incredible that many were then bought and published by the Mail on Sunday and the News of the World.”
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