Amy Winehouse’s father loses claim against daughter’s friends over sale of singer’s items
Amy Winehouse’s father has lost a High Court case against two of his daughter’s friends over the auction of items owned by the singer.
Mitch Winehouse, who serves as administrator of his daughter’s estate, sued her stylist Naomi Parry and her friend Catriona Gourlay over allegations they made a profit by selling dozens of items at auctions in the United States in 2021 and 2023.
Mr Winehouse’s lawyers said at a hearing in December that the two women “deliberately concealed” that they were selling the products and that legal action was her “only way to get answers”.
Ms Parry and Ms Gourlay defended the claim, with their lawyers saying the items were either gifted by Ms Winehouse or already belonged to them.
High Court deputy judge Sarah Clarke KC said in her judgment on Monday: “I find that neither Ms Parry nor Ms Gourlay deliberately concealed the disputed items from the plaintiff, and even if I were wrong about this, Mr Winehouse could have discovered with reasonable diligence what disputed items the defendants were in possession of.”
In a statement released by her lawyers, Naomi Parry said after the verdict: “Today, the High Court has given a clear and complete exoneration after years of deeply damaging and false allegations made by Mitch Winehouse.
“This is not a matter of partial consequence or nuance. The claim completely failed. It should never have been made.”
“I stood by Amy as a friend, creative partner, and her costume designer. What we shared was built on trust, loyalty, and a genuine love of the work.
“It was both painful and deeply unfair to see the relationship so publicly misrepresented.
“This decision reveals the truth again. However, it does not eliminate the damage that defending myself against allegations that are not based on any evidence has brought to my health, work and life.
“Accountability is important and I will take the necessary steps to repair the damage caused. For now, my focus is on rebuilding my life and career and protecting my name, the business I created with Amy, and her legacy.”
Winehouse, who became an international star with her album Back To Black, released in 2006, died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27.
