Soap stars settle phone hacking damages cases

Two Coronation Street stars and a sports agent who has represented high-profile footballers including David Beckham and Michael Owen have settled phone-hacking damages actions, the High Court has heard.

Lawyers for actress Tina O’brien, actor Ryan Thomas and Simon Bayliff told a judge in London yesterday that they had settled claims against News Group Newspapers, publisher of the Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.

Mr Justice Mann heard that Ms O’brien, who plays Sarahlouise Platt in the ITV soap, and Mr Thomas, who is best known for his role as Jason Grimshaw, had each accepted “substantial damages” in their 0 Lawyers for Tina O’brien settled her claim yesterday

actions for misuse of private information.

Mr Bayliff, who has also represented sportsmen such as Dwight Yorke and Jonathan Woodgate, has also accepted a payment of damages, the court heard.

During the proceedings, all three received a public apology from the publishers.