EastEnders actor Steve McFadden has accepted undisclosed damages in the High Court after suing the publisher of the News of the World for libel. The TV star, who plays Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap, took legal action against News Group Newspapers after the newspaper published an article in November 2010 which suggested he had harassed a former girlfriend. Details of the terms of a settlement were given to Mr Justice Tugendhat by lawyers. McFadden was in court and told reporters afterwards: "I'm glad it's all over." David Price QC, for McFadden, told the judge that the actor's damages arose from a News of the World article published on November 7, 2010 and headed: "Nicked! Exclusive: Cops Arrest Enders Star." He said the article reported McFadden's arrest in relation to 'alleged harassment to cause violence towards a former girlfriend'. Mr Price said a police investigation was closed and no charges brought, but McFadden was concerned that the article 'may have been understood to suggest that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that he was guilty'. He said News Group Newspapers had agreed to pay McFadden damages and his legal costs. The court was not given any indication of the size of the payout. Brid Jordan, for News Group Newspapers, apologised.
