News International will make pay-outs in 36 legal cases following the fall-out of the News of the World phone hacking scandal.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp's British arm will settle 36 cases against the company from plaintiffs including Jude Law and former UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, according to Reuters.
The media conglomerate offered "sincere apologies" in addition to agreeing to settle the cases but said it was not admitting that senior staff had been aware of the wrongdoing or sought to conceal it. However, for the sole purposes of settling the cases, the company agreed the damages for each case will be assessed as if they had.
The settlements started from 30,000 pounds while another 10 cases will proceed to court.
News International has been under siege since mid-last year when it was revealed its subsequently-closed tabloid paper News of the World had engaged in illegal phone hacking of murder victim Milly Dowler. As a result, several senior executives and editors were arrested and charged.
The incident sparked a global debate and government inquiries on media ethics and practices, with all eyes on Britain's Leveson inquiry.
The ripples reached Australia where Murdoch's local operations, News Limited, was drawn into the debate, with former chief executive John Hartigan vehemently defending the company. He left News Limited in December.
Rupert Murdoch and his son James Murdoch's personal brands has taken a battering throughout the scandal.
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