British actor Jude Law poses on the red carpet before the screening of "The Tree of Life" presented in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 16 in Cannes. - AFP photo

LONDON: British actor Jude Law is suing The Sun for allegedly hacking his phone, both sides revealed Friday, in what is thought to be the first such legal action against Rupert Murdoch's best-selling daily tabloid.

The paper's parent company, News International, dismissed it as a “deeply cynical” attempt to draw The Sun into the scandal which has engulfed Murdoch's media empire and forced the closure of its sister paper, the News of the World.

Law was already suing the News of the World over phone hacking, and his former girlfriend, actress Sienna Miller, won an apology and £100,000 ($165,000, 110,000 euros) in damages and legal costs from the Sunday tabloid.

News International said that Law, the Oscar-nominated star of “Cold Mountain” and “Sherlock Holmes”, had launched action alleging that four Sun articles in 2005 and 2006 were based on information taken from his voicemails.

“We believe this is a deeply cynical and deliberately mischievous attempt to draw The Sun into the phone-hacking issue,” a News International statement said. “The allegations made in this claim have been carefully investigated by our lawyers and the evidence shows that they have no foundation whatsoever.”

“In particular, the claimant's solicitors have relied on a reference in documentation that they should be well aware has nothing to do with a case against The Sun... Also, another article complained of merely reiterated information which was already in the public domain. The claim will be defended vigorously.”

Law's lawyers confirmed that he was taking action against The Sun, and rejected News International's “ridiculous” arguments.

“We have no comment to make about this claim which will be considered by the court in due course,” said a statement from the actor's lawyers, Atkins Thomson... Accusations of cynicism and mischief making by News International are ridiculous.”

“By their own admission, News International have misled the police, parliament and the public for nearly five years about the extent of the wrongdoing by their journalists and executives. Their record speaks for itself.”

Opinion

Editorial

Out of control
Updated 19 Feb, 2025

Out of control

AS bodies continue to fall in Kurram despite a state-sanctioned ceasefire, one wonders how long local militants’...
Hollow words
19 Feb, 2025

Hollow words

IT is not uncommon for politicians to resort to the use of hyperbole in order to boost their public standing. ...
Migration matters
19 Feb, 2025

Migration matters

THE grass, it seems, did appear greener on the other side to millions of people as evidenced by the latest UN ...
Cholistan project
Updated 18 Feb, 2025

Cholistan project

GPI goals align with Pakistan's broader economic aims but the manner in which the initiative was launched raises questions.
Right to know
18 Feb, 2025

Right to know

IT is an unfortunate paradox that while on paper Pakistan has some of the most impressive right to information laws,...
Dam dispute
18 Feb, 2025

Dam dispute

THE situation in Chilas needs attention and a fair-minded approach so that it can be resolved amicably. Diamer ...