Key Figure in Prince Harry Legal Action Alleges Confession Was False

A inquiry agent at the heart of the court case filed by Prince Harry and several claimants targeting the publishing group of the Daily Mail has asserted his autograph on an previous testimonial document was a “counterfeit”, the superior court has been told.

The investigator, associated with the most serious claims of unlawful intelligence gathering made by seven well-known personalities including Elton John and the activist, disavowed his alleged admission, declaring it was “wholly fabricated”.

Background of the Alleged Confession

Burrows had supposedly claimed in a testimonial from 2021 that he and his team acquired information by accessing voice messages, intercepting home telephones and placing listening devices in automobiles. He also reportedly claimed he had operated on behalf of the Sunday publication.

The media company is accused by the group of carrying out or hiring for unlawful activities such as employing private investigators to install surveillance equipment inside vehicles, manipulating access to private records and intercepting confidential calls. The company disputes the allegations and is opposing the lawsuit.

Retraction and New Allegations

Several of the plaintiffs have informed the court they embarked on the lawsuit targeting the media group based on evidence seemingly obtained by the investigator.

Burrows had previously retracted his alleged statement in last year. In a recent 30-page testimonial document made on 25 September 2025, and released by the court on this week, he reaffirmed his disavowal, saying he had at no time carried out any illicit operation on behalf of the publishing group.

In the latest testimony, he claimed he did “fail to acknowledge” the alleged witness statement on 16 August 2021”. He stated he thought it was “created by third parties”, that the autograph is not mine”, and did reject the veracity of much of the information”.

Burrows said: “I fail to identify the prior witness statement of that date and I think that my signature on that paper is a fake. Much of it is not written in my style of speaking. Additionally, the substance of the testimony are largely inaccurate.”

He added that he had “at no time” carried out tasks for the Sunday paper or the daily tabloid, with the exception of one job involving Sir Richard Branson that “did not involve any unlawful act”.

Circumstances of the Initial Testimony

The witness claimed he was on heavy medication after a serious attack, and engaging in heavy drinking, when he was reached out to by Graham Johnson, a informant found guilty of phone hacking, who desired support with inquiry on accusations of spying targeting media outlets.

He was connected to a associate, an individual, who was described as a legal assistant and was remunerated a sum a instance for counsel.

His testimony claimed he was advised allegations against newspapers were expected to settle privately, as the outlets did not want the publicity or cost of a legal proceeding, and were described to him as a “perfect scam” and a “lucrative opportunity”.

Burrows, who stated he had discontinued operating for publications in 2003, stated he had told the former journalist “a hundred times that the publisher were not one of my employers”.

Current Court Status

The witness was initially a witness for the claimants, which also includes David Furnish and others, but is now the topic of debates about if he will be called as a witness for the proceedings.

A barrister, for the defendant, requested the judge to authorize him to cross-examine Burrows, while David Sherborne, for the claimants, made an application to consider his evidence as hearsay.

The judge allowed the barrister seven days to determine if he wanted to request a witness summons to call the witness, and informed him if Burrows offered evidence that was inconsistent with the information they had gathered, then he could apply to treat him as “uncooperative”.

A subsequent court session in the case is expected to occur before the close of the calendar.