A European commission has rejected an effort by Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, to sue the British government over its privacy laws, delighting newspapers he accused of hunting his sister to death.
Spencer, whose attack on the media made international headlines at Diana's funeral in September, was seeking to sue in connection with 1995 tabloid reports that his former wife had drinking and drug problems.However, the European Commission on Human Rights ruled Friday there were insufficient grounds for a suit, including that Spencer had not exhausted his legal rights in British courts - one of the criteria for taking cases to the commission.
In 1995, The News of the World published a front-page story under the headline "Di's Sister-in-Law in Booze and Bulimia Clinic," and a picture of his wife, a former model, walking on the grounds of the clinic.
Britain's Press Complaints Commission reprimanded the paper at the time, but the non-governmental body, composed mostly of editors, has no power to punish newspapers or ban reporting.
Spencer's lawyers argued that Britain should have laws banning publication of such personal stories and forcing violations to pay compensation. The commission did not elaborate on its reasons for rejecting the argument.
The earl did not comment after the suit was dismissed.
Spencer, 33, and the former Victoria Lockwood, 32, left Britain in 1996 complaining of intrusive reporting. The Spencers, who have four children, were divorced last month in South Africa, where they now live.
They reached a quick settlement after she alleged he had a string of extramarital affairs and a former lover gave interviews. The press seized on the revelations.
Before his recent attacks on the press, Spencer sold the story of his 1989 wedding to a celebrity magazine, "Hello!" and worked as a reporter and commentator for NBC's "Today" program and for Britain's Granada TV.
Reaction to the commission's ruling from British tabloids Saturday reflected Spencer's acrimonious relationship with newspapers - he has sued several.
"Spencer's double standards and dubious morals have lost him any vestige of credibility," The Sun declared.
Since Diana's death Aug. 31 in a high-speed car crash in Paris with paparazzi photographers in pursuit, British newspapers have voluntarily adopted stricter rules on privacy.