Charlotte Church settles NOTW phone hacking damages claim before trial

London, Feb 24 (ANI): British singer Charlotte Church has settled her damages claim against the News of the World publisher for phone hacking out of court, her solicitor has revealed.

The singer is thought to have accepted a deal worth up to 500,000 pounds in compensation from News Group Newspapers, publisher of the defunct tabloid.

According to The Telegraph, actual details of her compensation are expected to be made public when she attends a high court hearing on Monday, where News Group Newspapers will apologise for intercepting her voicemails.

Church, 26, her mother, Maria, and her adoptive father, James, had complained that the News of the World published distressing stories about them that had originated from voicemail messages hacked by Glenn Mulcaire, the private detective jailed for phone hacking in 2007.

Their case against NGN had been due for a trial on Monday, but Mike Brookes, who represents the family, said today that "we have agreed terms" with NGN.

Five other outstanding cases against NGN from alleged victims of hacking, including the footballer Ryan Giggs, would also be discussed when their lawyers attend a case management hearing on Monday.

They are the only outstanding cases lodged with the High Court before a cut-off date in October last year for the first batch of claims against NGN to be dealt with by the court.

According to the paper, over 50 other cases have been settled over the past two months. (ANI)