The judge said this had particular resonance given that the MP had been portraying himself as a family man in his constituency of Eastleigh, Hampshire.
He also said that, as Miss Trimingham had disclosed information about others for publication in newspapers, she was "a person who ought not reasonably to be expected to be distressed when such information was published about herself". He said he had not found her to be a good or reliable witness and criticised her lack of candour in diminishing the importance of an election leaflet featuring Mr Huhne's family.
Her evidence that the newspaper had "trashed" her former civil partnership by publishing a photograph was "seriously exaggerated", he said.
"Miss Trimingham has shown little sign of recognising how what she herself has done has given rise to the publicity she finds so unwelcome," he said.
"The difficult situation she found herself in was of her own making."
Although he said that the newspapers' offending words were protected by the right to freedom of expression, he warned that the ruling was not a licence for Associated Newspapers to repeat them indefinitely or in any circumstances.
Outside the High Court, Miss Trimingham said she was "disappointed" by the ruling and signalled her intention to appeal against the decision. "I am very concerned that this judgment may become a blueprint for bullies and bigots," she said. She was ordered to pay Associated's £410,000 legal costs, of which £250,000 is covered by insurance. Her own costs are estimated to be in the region of £600,000.
Anthony White QC, for Associated, argued that the core of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday stories was the "hypocrisy" of Mr Huhne's claims to be a committed family man during the 2010 general election. At the time, Mr Huhne was still married to his wife of 26 years, Vicky Pryce, while Miss Trimingham was in a civil partnership.
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