Business figure wins privacy claim

Victoria Price wins action against Associated Newspapers over false private and private information.

In a statement read in the High Court on 17 October Ms Price’s lawyer Jess Alden of Slateford told Richard Spearman KC that Associated Newspapers Limited had settled a claim over the publication of private and false private information in two articles in February 2024. The claim arose out of reporting of Ms Price’s relationship with Mohsin Issa, the co-owner of supermarket group ASDA.

Ms Alden told the Court: “As a result of pressure and speculation from a range of media organisations, Ms Price was forced to confirm her relationship with Mr Issa in early February 2024. However, in doing so, they requested through their solicitors that the media refrain from intruding into their private lives.

“Unfortunately, despite this request, two articles were published by the Defendant in February 2024 which contained some private and intrusive details, and some false private information about Ms Price’s personal life, as well as her relationships and religious beliefs.”. 

Commenting on the settlement Ms Price said: “Today’s statement in open court makes clear that I will not tolerate unwarranted invasions of my privacy or false reporting and I am pleased that it concludes this awful chapter.

“I’m massively thankful for the swell of support that I received from friends, colleagues and strangers, but most of all I am grateful to my family for their steadfast love throughout what was a pretty horrific time. It has made us stronger”

She is donating the damages and a portion of her legal costs paid by Associated Newspapers to charity.

Following the settlement, Slateford founder Chris Scott said:

“We’re pleased to see this matter brought to a swift and successful conclusion after an incredibly stressful time for Victoria and Mohsin. No-one should tolerate this kind of reporting intrusively targeting successful people’s private lives, and it’s only by someone like Victoria taking a stand against it that deterrence is created to protect everyone else’s freedoms.”