Phone hacking: Chris Eubank set for big fight

Retired boxer Chris Eubank has told the High Court he is looking forward to a “gargantuan battle” over phone-hacking.

The former world champion told the 14th case management conference before Mr Justice Vos in London that he was not accepting a “derisory offer” of £21,000 to settle his case.

Reading from notes in a room packed with about 100 lawyers and media, he said News Group Newspapers – publisher of the Sun and now-defunct News of the World – had “made a mockery of the justice system here in the UK”.

Eubank carried on, despite interruptions by Dinah Rose, QC, for the newspaper group, and the judge, who said his case was at a preliminary stage and it was not appropriate to try to negotiate in the face of the court.

Eubank said he was confident evidence about his case would get into the public domain shortly and he looked forward to the “gargantuan battle” ahead of him.

Former Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan also announced he had rejected an offer of damages.