Invasion of Privacy

Two photo agencies have been ordered to pay £58,000 damages to Hugh Grant, his former partner Liz Hurley and Ms Hurley's husband, Arun Nayar, over photos taken of them on holiday in a private resort in the Maldives.

Big Pictures (UK) Ltd and Eliot Press SARL will pay the compensation with contributions from Associated Newspapers and News Group Newspapers after London's High Court found that their actions constituted an invasion of privacy.

Eliot Press had obtained photos of the claimants in October 2007 and granted London-based Big Pictures the right to sell them in the UK and Ireland. Subsequently, Big Pictures supplied the photos to Associated Newspapers and News Group Newspapers, who both published them.

The complainants' solicitor, Laura Tyler, told Mr Justice Eady that the photos were taken covertly without their knowledge while they were on holiday in a resort which they had chosen for the complete privacy and seclusion it offered.

"It has been most upsetting for the claimants to have their privacy invaded by these defendants," she said.

Ms Tyler added that the photographic agencies had apologised unequivocally and had agreed to pay some of the claimants' legal costs.

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