Six clients of leading law firm Collyer Bristow, including actor David Tennant and Olympic Athlete Colin Jackson, received an apology in the High Court today from News Group Newspapers after their phones were hacked by News of the World.

Also represented by Collyer Bristow in this case are Fran Cutler, Jess Morris, Tanya Frane and Sophia Myles.

The claims involve allegations of unlawful phone hacking and so-called ‘blagging’ of personal information by private investigators. While some cases have settled, many more are expected to go ahead.

A statement read by News Group Newspapers in Open Court today offered “its sincerest apologies…for the distress caused” and accepted “that such activity should never have taken place and, that it had no right to intrude into the private life” of the victims.

Steven Heffer, Partner and Head of Media and Privacy at Collyer Bristow, has acted for over 200 victims of phone hacking. The first wave of litigation against News Group began almost seven years go.

Steven Heffer comments: “Our clients have been through a distressing ordeal, and it is absolutely right that News Group Newspapers have apologised, acknowledged the harm they caused in open court and paid compensation.”

“Our clients had their privacy violated, and an apology helps our clients to move on.”

“However, there are still many more claims that are expected to go ahead against News Group Newspapers.”

“The further court cases became inevitable once News Group closed down its compensation scheme in 2013, despite a huge number of claims still being outstanding.”