A Rare Bird: High Court Media Harassment And Privacy judgment

The implications of Carina Trimingham's defeat by Associated Newspapers in May 2012

Mr Justice Tugendhat came down on the side of the media in this action for breach of privacy. Here there was an additional element of alleged harassment by Associated – only the second time that alleged media harassment has been the subject of a High Court judgment.

Facts

The facts of this case were unusual. Carina Trimingham was a journalist and communications officer and had been working as press officer for Chris Huhne in his election campaign for the 2010 general election. Mr Huhne was married. He retained his seat in the May 2010 election and became a member of the cabinet.

The following month there was blanket press coverage of the fact that Mr Huhne had been having an affair with Carina Trimingham. Associated Newspapers published a series of articles discussing Ms Trimingham and included the fact that she was in a civil partnership with another woman and that hence her