Amy Winehouse’s father ordered to pay damages after failed court case

Amy Winehouse’s father, Mitch Winehouse, has been ordered by a London court to pay nearly £2 million in damages and legal costs after losing a lawsuit against two of the late singer’s close friends.

Mitch Winehouse, 75, claimed that Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay sold Amy Winehouse’s personal belongings through auctions in the United States between 2021 and 2023 without his permission and for personal profit. The court dismissed those claims in April, and a final judgment has now upheld that decision.

Justice Clarke ruled that Mitch Winehouse knew about the planned auction and criticised him for pursuing a weak case while making serious, unfounded allegations that harmed the women’s reputations, finances and wellbeing.

The judge also found that Mitch had communicated directly with Julien’s Auctions before the 2021 sale and had received information about the auction in advance.

Under the ruling, Mitch must pay about £569,330 to Naomi Parry and £394,521 to Catriona Gourlay, along with substantial legal costs.

Amy Winehouse, best known for her award-winning album Back to Black, died in 2011 at the age of 27 from accidental alcohol poisoning.