Newspaper launches appeal on Naomi Campbell ruling

The Daily Mirror was today launching its appeal against a High Court judge’s ruling in favour of supermodel Naomi Campbell in her recent breach of confidentiality case against the newspaper.

The newspaper has indicated its intention to challenge all aspects of Mr Justice Morland’s decision, which was given in London in March.

It says it believes the judge’s ruling to be ‘‘fundamentally flawed’’ and that it should be overturned.

The newspaper will also contest Mr Justice Morland’s decision to award Miss Campbell her legal costs.

Miss Campbell was awarded £3,500 damages over the Mirror’s publication of details about her therapy at Narcotics Anonymous.

She had claimed that she felt ‘‘shocked, angry, betrayed and violated’’ by the February 2001 report, which was accompanied by photos of her leaving an NA meeting in London’s King’s Road.

The compensation included £2,500 for her claims for breach of confidentiality and breach of duty under the 1998 Data Protection Act.

Mr Justice Morland also awarded her £1,000 aggravated damages over a subsequent article which compared the 31-year-old with a ‘‘chocolate soldier’’.

Campbell, born in Streatham, south London, did not pursue her claim for infringement of privacy.