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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Sian Harrison & Ryan Paton & Jess Glass

Coleen Rooney's bid to sue Rebekah Vardy's agent rejected by High Court

Coleen Rooney's bid to sue Rebekah Vardy's agent has been rejected by the High Court.

The ruling is the latest in the ongoing legal battle between the footballers' wives.

Mrs Rooney earned the nicknamed "Wagatha Christie" in October 2019 when she publicly accused Mrs Vardy of leaking information about her private life after a months-long "sting-operation".

READ MORE: Coleen Rooney sends perfect response to critic's comment over documentary

The wife of the Leicester City striker has denied the allegations and is suing Mrs Rooney for libel.

Mrs Rooney's lawyers previously claimed that Mrs Vardy had leaked information to The S*n either directly or through her agent Caroline Watt "acting on her instruction or with her knowing approval".

Mrs Rooney asked for permission to bring an "additional claim" against Ms Watt for misuse of private information and wanted it to be heard alongside the libel case.

Her barrister David Sherborne told the court last week that if Mrs Vardy wins her claim on the basis that she was not the person who leaked the information, then Mrs Rooney will be left without "vindication" unless she is able to bring the claim against Ms Watt as part of the same case.

Mrs Vardy's lawyers opposed the application to add the claim against Ms Watt to the libel case.

In a ruling on Monday, following a two-day hearing last week, Mrs Justice Steyn refused permission for the additional claim against Ms Watt and refused permission for it to be heard alongside the libel trial.

However, the judge gave the go-ahead for Mrs Rooney to amend her defence case, to include an allegation that Ms Vardy, through Ms Watt, provided information to The S*n about an unnamed professional footballer.

She also gave permission for disclosure of WhatsApp messages between Mrs Vardy and Ms Watt during the relevant period, and allowed Mrs Rooney's application for an order that both parties make a joint request for information to Instagram.

She refused other disclosure applications made by both Mrs Rooney and Mrs Vardy.

The trial of the libel claim is due to take place in May, but may be delayed.

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