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tv   BBC News Now  BBC News  December 15, 2023 2:45pm-3:00pm GMT

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thank you. norwich, thank you. prince harry has won his phone hacking case against the publishers of the daily mirror, high court judge ruled this morning that on 15 occasions the duke of sussex was the victim of hacking or other unlawful methods of getting stories about him. he has been awarded £114,000 in damages. in a statement, prince harry said it is a great day for the truth and called on the police to launch a criminal investigation into mirror group newspapers. ijust want to show you a live picture from central london. this is a door, a front door close to central london, and we expect piers morgan to appear there shortly. he of course was the editor of the daily mirror and the judge, high courtjudge, said that he accepted the evidence that journalists were involved in phone hacking while piers morgan was editor of the daily mirror and we are expecting a statement from piers morgan shortly. we will bring that to you when we get it. but let's bring you up—to—date with the details of the last few hours. our
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media correspondent david sillito reports. this has been a landmark case, prince harry said his life had been blighted by illegal press intrusion and today the judge, mr justice frankel, ruled that yes, his phone had been repeatedly hacked by mirror group newspapers. 0utside court, a statement was read out on the half of the duke. today's ruling is vindicating and affirming. i've been told slaying dragons will get you burnt, but in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. the mission continues. thank you very much. 33 mirror group articles had been presented to court. 15, thejudge said, had been sourced by illegal activity. hacking, he said, had been widespread and habitual 1996 and 2011, habitual between 1996 and 2011, and he concluded that a former
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editor of the mirror, tv presenter piers morgan, had known about the practice. piers morgan has repeatedly denied involvement. referring to one story and about the writer 0mid scobie, mrjustice fancourt said, "i found mr scobie to be a straightforward and reliable witness and i accept what he said about piers morgan's involvement in the minogue/gooding story." no evidence was called by mgn to contradict it. the judge also named former senior directors of the company, one of them former chief executive sly bailey, who told the leveson inquiry in 2012 there was no evidence of hacking. we have only seen unsubstantiated allegations and i have seen no evidence to show me phone hacking has ever taken place. ——place at trinity mirror. this, thejudge said, was untrue,
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she had known for years about the practice and turned a blind eye. hacking, he said, had been widespread and habitual at the mirror since 1996. this is, of course, far from the first hacking case the mirror has lost. prince harry was today awarded over £140,000 in damages, an amount that could increase considerably as other stories are considered. but costs and damages of more than £100 million have already been paid out to many other victims. the company, now known as reach, said, "we welcome the judgment that gives the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago. where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly and have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation." for prince harry, this is a landmark moment, it's 132 years since a senior member of the royal family appeared on the witness stand. but today's court victory is only one of a number of cases he's bringing, in a battle against newspapers he says have brought
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misery through relentless and illegal activity. david sillito, bbc news. you're watching bbc news. we are watching closely this door in central london. we are expecting piers morgan to appear there in a few moments time. he will soon be making a statement about today's high court ruling. he posted on social media, "you guys camped outside my house in the cold, you won't have to wait too much longer." that's because the judgejustice fancourt ruled earlier today piers morgan knew about phone hacking and was involved when he was editor of the daily mirror between 1995 and 2004. fortheir the daily mirror between 1995 and 2004. for their part mirror group newspapers admitted phone hacking took place but insist blame cannot be pinned on executives or editors because mgn says the unlawful activity was deliberately concealed by the journalists. for his part, piers morgan has repeatedly denied any involvement in phone hacking. thejudge, mrjustice fancourt,
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the judge, mrjustice fancourt, ruled thejudge, mrjustice fancourt, ruled earlier today that in his opinion mr morgan knew about the activity between 95 and 2004. like i say, we expect piers morgan to appear through that door shortly and when he does we will bring it to you on bbc news. but for the moment, the british boy who has been found six years after he disappeared is expected to return to his family in 0ldham in the next few days. alex batty — now 17 — was last seen travelling to spain with his mother and grandfather. he is now 17 and was picked up by a delivery driver near the french city of toulouse. the first police update on alex batty, the boy from 0ldham last seen six years ago. i think i speak on behalf of the whole of greater manchester police when i say we are relieved and overjoyed to receive the news from the french authorities that they believe alex batty has been found safe and well. alex went missing on holiday in spain in 2017 with his mum
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melanie and grandfather david, who weren't his legal guardians. he hasn't been seen until wednesday, when he was spotted on this road in the foothills of the pyrenees by this driver. translation: he was walking in the middle of a forest, - a 20—minute drive from the nearest village. this is not usual. there's no explanation for someone to be walking around out there so late. so on my way back, i thought i should stop and ask him if he was ok. alex used the man's phone to message his grandmother, who is his legal guardian, saying... police hope they will be reunited in the next few days. the young man and alex's grandmother spoke on a video call last night, and while she is content that this is indeed alex, we obviously have further checks to do when he returns
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to the united kingdom. susan caruana has previously spoken of her anguish at her grandson's disappearance. it's been an absolute nightmare. ijust can't explain to anyone how it feels knowing you might never see the grandson that you love so much, might not see him ever again. the teenager was taken to this police station in the town of revel when he was found, before being handed over to social services. today's focus is to bring alex batty back to 0ldham and to ensure his wellbeing is at the heart of how this missing boy is welcomed home. mairead smyth, bbc news. there has been a significant increase in the number of very young children in scotland escaping from nursery school care will stop new data for last year shows two children a week on average went missing eitherfrom nursery or while
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on trips. a mother whose three—year—old son got out of his nursery and nearly hit by a boss says the early years sector needs to get a grip of a growing problem. walk the plank! mali: get a grip of a growing problem. walk the plank!— walk the plank! walk the plank. another adventure _ walk the plank! walk the plank. another adventure under - walk the plank! walk the plank. another adventure under the . walk the plank! walk the plank. - another adventure under the watchful eye of mum kayleigh but it was a different story last august. he told me, he different story last august. he told me. he said _ different story last august. he told me, he said it's _ different story last august. he told me, he said it's ok, _ different story last august. he told me, he said it's ok, mum, - different story last august. he told me, he said it's ok, mum, i- different story last august. he told l me, he said it's ok, mum, i crossed the road _ me, he said it's ok, mum, i crossed the road by— me, he said it's ok, mum, i crossed the road by myself. this me, he said it's ok, mum, i crossed the road by myself.— the road by myself. this tiny speck circled as three-year-old - the road by myself. this tiny speck circled as three-year-old escaping| circled as three—year—old escaping from his nursery in aberdeen without staff noticing. into from his nursery in aberdeen without staff noticing-— staff noticing. into the sea! the bit that kind — staff noticing. into the sea! the bit that kind of _ staff noticing. into the sea! the bit that kind of got _ staff noticing. into the sea! the bit that kind of got me - staff noticing. into the sea! the bit that kind of got me really i bit that kind of got me really worried _ bit that kind of got me really worried was he told me that a bus nearly— worried was he told me that a bus nearly hit— worried was he told me that a bus nearly hit him. i've now had people on the _ nearly hit him. i've now had people on the bus— nearly hit him. i've now had people on the bus confirmed that the bus did nearly— on the bus confirmed that the bus did nearly hit him. he talks about it quite _ did nearly hit him. he talks about it quite frequently, it's quite a frequent — it quite frequently, it's quite a frequent conversation that he has about— frequent conversation that he has about how— frequent conversation that he has about how scared he was and he just wanted _ about how scared he was and he just wanted money. we live in the what ifs, wanted money. we live in the what its, it _ wanted money. we live in the what its, it was — wanted money. we live in the what ifs, it was very traumatic.—
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ifs, it was very traumatic. river assed ifs, it was very traumatic. river passed by _ ifs, it was very traumatic. river passed by one _ ifs, it was very traumatic. river passed by one of _ ifs, it was very traumatic. river passed by one of the _ ifs, it was very traumatic. river passed by one of the main - ifs, it was very traumatic. river l passed by one of the main routes into the city before. by a stranger who took him home. the number of incidents where a child in a nursery went missing or was unaccounted for is increasing. reports to scotland's childcare watchdog went from 88, two years ago, up to 119 in the last financial year and the number of incidents is on course to rise again. the care inspectorate says it is working with operators to understand what is going wrong and how the trend can be reversed. for us, the how the trend can be reversed. fr?" us, the safety of children is paramount no matter what the setting and this was a clear risk and a significant concern for us. i can imagine if it was my child how i would feel, i can imagine how parents out there feel. but i would say the sector are also deeply concerned about it. the say the sector are also deeply concerned about it.— say the sector are also deeply concerned about it. the early years sector says — concerned about it. the early years sector says high — concerned about it. the early years sector says high staff _ concerned about it. the early years sector says high staff turnover - sector says high staff turnover rates but also post—pandemic changes have contributed to the problem. ii’hloifa�* have contributed to the problem. now ou have have contributed to the problem. now you have more — have contributed to the problem. now you have more people coming back into the _ you have more people coming back into the nursery setting, which is great _ into the nursery setting, which is great for— into the nursery setting, which is great for those interactions with parents — great for those interactions with
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parents and at the same time it means— parents and at the same time it means a — parents and at the same time it means a lot more in and out, a lot more _ means a lot more in and out, a lot more opportunities for things like this to _ more opportunities for things like this to happen. more opportunities for things like this to happen-— this to happen. aberdeen city council, which _ this to happen. aberdeen city council, which runs— this to happen. aberdeen city council, which runs a - this to happen. aberdeen city council, which runs a nursery| this to happen. aberdeen city - council, which runs a nursery where river escaped from, has apologised to the family and said it has since made improvements. but river is still feeling the impact of the incident. he still feeling the impact of the incident. , , , , , .,, incident. he sleeps in my bed most nithts, he incident. he sleeps in my bed most nights. he will— incident. he sleeps in my bed most nights, he will wake _ incident. he sleeps in my bed most nights, he will wake up _ incident. he sleeps in my bed most nights, he will wake up and - incident. he sleeps in my bed most nights, he will wake up and said . nights, he will wake up and said he's _ nights, he will wake up and said he's had — nights, he will wake up and said he's had a — nights, he will wake up and said he's had a bad dream about the situation — he's had a bad dream about the situation. he is not the same boy that i_ situation. he is not the same boy that i used — situation. he is not the same boy that i used to have. kayleigh kilpatrick ending that report. detectives investigating the crash at the 02 academy in brixton exactly at the 02 academy in brixton exactly a year ago say that they are searching for 13 people who may have vital information. it comes as the relatives of two people killed at the south london music venue have renewed their appeal for information. greg mckenzie sent this report from bbc london. it was meant to be a celebration of afrobeat artists second london show last year
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when people stormed the doors at the 02 academy in brixton.— 02 academy in brixton. 3000 people have broken — 02 academy in brixton. 3000 people have broken the _ 02 academy in brixton. 3000 people have broken the doors _ 02 academy in brixton. 3000 people have broken the doors outside - 02 academy in brixton. 3000 people have broken the doors outside and i have broken the doors outside and the police have asked us to close the police have asked us to close the show. in the days that followed, some security staff were accused of allowing hundreds of ticketless fans into an already sold—out event. tram into an already sold-out event. two --eole into an already sold-out event. two people were — into an already sold—out event. two people were never to come home. 33—year—old nursing graduate rebecca from newham in east london and 23—year—old security dock handler from gravesend in kent. a third person, 22—year—old woman, remains in a serious condition in hospital. today, one year on, the families of those who died have asked him to instruct his thousands of fans to help with the police investigation. he has not done nearly enough, we as
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a family have not heard anything from him, he's used gabby�*s name in his speeches and concerts but he hasn't actually done anything to support the investigation. brute hasn't actually done anything to support the investigation. we don't want others — support the investigation. we don't want others to _ support the investigation. we don't want others to go _ support the investigation. we don't want others to go through - support the investigation. we don't want others to go through what - support the investigation. we don't want others to go through what we | want others to go through what we have gone — want others to go through what we have gone through, it was hell for us. have gone through, it was hell for us he _ have gone through, it was hell for us he has — have gone through, it was hell for us. he has the power. these people worship _ us. he has the power. these people worship him — us. he has the power. these people worship him as an idle. 0ur us. he has the power. these people worship him as an idle. our daughter was one _ worship him as an idle. our daughter was one of— worship him as an idle. our daughter was one of them as well. he can tell them _ was one of them as well. he can tell them, someone must have seen something. its them, someone must have seen something-— them, someone must have seen something. a police investigation was launched _ something. a police investigation was launched and _ something. a police investigation was launched and today - something. a police investigation was launched and today a - something. a police investigation| was launched and today a number something. a police investigation i was launched and today a number of people are being urged to come forward with potentially vital information.— forward with potentially vital information. , ., , ., ., information. these images are of individuals _ information. these images are of individuals who _ information. these images are of individuals who i _ information. these images are of individuals who i believe - information. these images are of individuals who i believe can - information. these images are of. individuals who i believe can answer some questions with regard to what they heard or saw. i believe them to be key witnesses and key individuals that could help us that we haven't as yet identified. the that could help us that we haven't as yet identified.— that could help us that we haven't as yet identified. the 02 academy in brixton will reopen _ as yet identified. the 02 academy in brixton will reopen after— as yet identified. the 02 academy in brixton will reopen after the -
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as yet identified. the 02 academy in brixton will reopen after the owners| brixton will reopen after the owners amg agreed to 77 robust and strict security measures which include new security, a crowd control system and also a command centre. many in the community have welcomed the new safety measures and the reopening of the much loved music venue but say the much loved music venue but say the events of december 15, 2022, should never happen again. greg mckenzie, bbc london. just a reminder that we are following developments in central london today. at this door we expect to see a piers morgan shortly. he said it wouldn't take long before he makes a statement following the high court ruling in central london that saw prince harry awarded over £140,000 in relation to allegations of phone hacking against the mirror group newspapers. 0f hacking against the mirror group newspapers. of the 33 headlines that were up for contention, the prince was found to have won 15 of those allegations in those claims. piers morgan was the editor of the daily
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mirror between 1995 and 2004, and thejudge mrjustice mirror between 1995 and 2004, and the judge mrjustice fancourt ruled morgan knew about phone hacking and was involved during his time as editor of the daily mirror. for his part piers morgan has repeatedly denied involvement in phone hacking. we have lost the image of the door. we have lost the image of the door. we can show you the live page were all of the information is collated, the insight, analysis and reporting from our correspondence who have been following the twists and turns of this case for months. back in the summer the first time in 130 years we saw a senior british royal give evidence in court, an historic moment, it led to today's ruling, the half—hour summary given by the judge this morning at about 10:30am in central london. like i say, we expect piers morgan to his views shortly. we will bring it to you on bbc news. do stay with us. don't go
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anywhere. live from london, this is bbc news. prince harry wins his phone—hacking case and is awarded £140,000 damages. in a statement, he described it as "a great day for truth". "today's ruling is vindicating and affirming. i've been told that slaying dragons will get you burnt, but in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay." these are the live pictures outside the home of the former daily mirror editor piers morgan, expected to make a statement in a few minutes. the israeli army says it's retrieved the bodies of three hostages — a civilian and two soldiers —
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who were captured by hamas on october 7th.

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