Football pundit Gray gets £20k for phone hacking

FOOTBALL pundit Andy Gray has accepted £20,000 (€22,500) in damages after falling victim to News of the World phone hacking.

The former Everton striker reached an agreement with News Group Newspapers (NGN) for compensation and undisclosed costs for the voicemail interceptions.

A spokeswoman for the newspaper group said: “This concludes the action Andy Gray was taking against NGN over voicemail interception in relation to the News of the World.”

The newspaper group reached a similar agreement with actress Sienna Miller, who received £100,000 in damages.

Lawyers said Gray — who presents TalkSport after a much-publicised exit at Sky Sports — fought “tooth and nail” to establish he had been a victim of hacking.

A spokesman for Gray added: “Andy took these proceedings to prove that he was a victim of unlawful phone hacking and he is pleased that his case has now been resolved.”

John Kelly, a partner at Schillings law firm, said: “When Andy first contacted the News of the World about this matter it denied any liability.

“Andy was forced to issue legal proceedings and had to fight tooth and nail to establish that he had been the victim of unlawful phone hacking.

“The News of the World finally threw in the towel in April when it admitted liability for the unlawful interception of Andy’s voicemail.

“The News of the World has since that time apologised to Andy and other victims, has agreed that it won’t target Andy in this way again and has now agreed to pay Andy substantial damages and his legal costs.”