Amy Winehouse's friend breaks silence after winning legal battle against singer's dad
Amy Winehouse’s friend Naomi Parry has spoken out after she and Catriona Gourlay won a High Court claim brought by Amy’s dad Mitch.
WInehouse, 75, claimed that Parry and Gourlay had ‘deliberately concealed’ the sales of dozens of the late pop star’s belongings via auctions in the US in 2021 and 2023.
He alleged the pair made more than £700,000 from selling Amy's belongings, including the silk mini dress she wore during her final performance in Belgrade in 2011, which sold for $243,200 (£182,000), as well as other clothing, accessories and memorabilia.
Parry and Gourlay maintained that all of the items they sold already belonged to them or were given to them by Amy - who died from alcohol poisoning on 23 July, 2011.
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On Wednesday (29 July), Deputy High Court Judge Sarah Clarke KC threw out the claim brought by Winehouse.
The judge said as of April Parry’s legal costs were estimated to have run £715,361, while Gourlay's were £487,132.
Ms Justice Clarke ordered Winehouse to pay interim payments to each woman within the next two weeks, with £569,330 going to Parry and £394,521 to Gourlay.
He must also pay the pair's legal costs on an indemnity basis, which means the pair will recover more of their costs than is usual.
Ms Justice Clarke said: "The claimant chose to bring an inherently weak claim, pursue it aggressively and relentlessly to the end, and make serious and unfounded allegations against the defendants which significantly damaged their reputations, career prospects, financial security and health."
Following the judgement, Parry has broken her silence about the legal battle.
In a clip shared on her Instagram page, Parry explained she’d ‘been a bit quiet over the last couple of months’ as she was waiting for the verdict.
Parry reiterated what the judge said about it being a ‘weak claim’ that was ‘denied on every ground’.
“This litigation has consumed almost five years of my life,” she said.
“It has destroyed my career and cost me more than I can put into words but the best thing to come out of it has been that the judge has unequivocally cleared my name and reputation.
“She said at no point during all that time had I ever done anything but behave with honesty, integrity and care for Amy, Mitch and his family.”
Parry went on to explain that the payment of almost £1 million will be going straight to her and Gourlay’s lawyers which ‘goes to show how expensive it is’ to fight a case like this.
She rounded out the clip by thanking her friends and family for their support.
“Honeslty, at the end of this, I might still be poor in money but I am rich in loved ones.”
Alongside being ordered to pay the legal fees for both women, Winehouse also spent at least £950,000 on his own legal fees, according to the judge.
Amy Winehouse died on July 23, 2011 at the age of 27 from accidental alcohol poisoning in her home in Camden, London.
Last week marked the 15th anniversary of her death.
LADbible Group has approached Mitch Winehouse for comment.
Claire Reid