Parties reach agreement
The privacy claim brought by Paul Gascoigne against the Daily Express and the Daily Star has settled in Mr Gascoigne’s favour. The newspapers have agreed to pay him damages.
By February 2013 Mr Gascoigne was having very serious problems which arose from an alcoholic relapse. His life became chaotic and he began to mix with a group of people in Hastings, where he was living. One of these associates filmed Mr Gascoigne in his home whilst he was in a particularly bad drunken state and speaking incoherently. Mr Gascoigne had not given his permission to be filmed and did not know he was being filmed. The associate sold a copy of the video to the Daily Express and the Daily Star. He also sold private information concerning Mr Gascoigne’s sex life and finances. On 13 and 14 February 2013 the newspapers began to broadcast copies of the video on their respective websites and stills from it in their print editions of those dates. The newspapers also published private information concerning Mr Gascoigne in their print and web editions.
The newspapers withdrew the offending material shortly after Mr Gascoigne complained. Until the case settled, it was due to go to trial in July 2014.
William Bennett was instructed by Steel & Shamash on behalf of Paul Gascoigne. Christina Michalos was instructed by Berrymans Lace Mawer for the Defendant.
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