Daily Mail accusers induced to sue on basis of disowned claims, court told

Lawyers for paper say investigator’s disputed claims were used to recruit prominent figures to case

Public figures such as Doreen Lawrence and Elton John were “induced” to sue the Daily Mail’s publisher on the basis of a private investigator’s now disowned claims of illegal activity, the high court has heard.

Seven people including Prince Harry have accused Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) of using unlawful information gathering to obtain stories. John’s partner, David Furnish, and the actor Liz Hurley are also among the group. ANL denies all the claims.