Newspaper denies phone hack claims
Updated on 10 July 2009
The News of the World refutes claims of tapping thousands of private phone records as News International chief Rupert Murdoch refuses to comment on Fox TV.
Three days after the Guardian made its allegations about phone hacking, the News of the World have strongly denied the claims but have made reference to the libel case brought by footballer Gordon Taylor about the alleged tapping of his phone.
A statement made by the News of the World owner News International said:
"News International has completed a thorough investigation into the various allegations made since the Guardian story broke on Wednesday. This investigation augmented a similar process here following the arrest of private investigator Glen Mulcaire and News of the World journalist Clive Goodman in August 2006.
"Perhaps more significantly, the police investigation into Glen Mulcaire and Clive Goodman began in 2005, nine months before the two men were arrested. Prior to arrest the police conducted live monitoring of both men's activities and also kept the News of the World activity in this area under investigation. The raids on Mulcaire's premises, on Goodman's premises and on the News of the World office seized all relevant documents and all available evidence. The police investigation continued after the arrests and all relevant activity was studied and analysed in the context of identifying unlawfulness/criminality. The police investigation was incredibly thorough.
"Apart from matters raised in the Mulcaire and Goodman proceedings, the only other evidence connecting News of the World reporters to information gained as a result of accessing a person's voicemail emerged in April 2008, during the course of the Gordon Taylor litigation. Neither this information nor any story arising from it was ever published. Once senior executives became aware of this, immediate steps were taken to resolve Mr Taylor's complaint."
News International went on to state that there was "never any evidence" to support allegations that News of the World journalists had accessed, or instructed private investigators to access, private voicemail messages. They also strongly refuted that "there was systemic corporate illegality by News International to suppress evidence."
In direct response to the Guardian's claims about phone hacking News International "invited" the newspaper to "supply the Metropolitan Police with any new evidence they claim to have."
Read the full News International statement here.
Litigation admitted
Home affairs correspondent for Channel 4 News Andy Davies said that News International had "admitted for the first time that they were in litigation with Gordon Taylor."
"They have admitted that during that litigation there was evidence that some of their journalists other than Clive Goodman, who was convicted, had access to messages which had been obtained by voicemail.
"That seems to contradict what one senior executive Les Hinton said before the culture committee in 2007 when he said that no journalist other than Clive Goodman had been involved.
"What they are saying in this statement is that when Les Hinton made that assertion they were not aware of what has now emerged in this latest litigation."
News International have said they refute all the claims made by the Guardian which they described as "irresponsible and unsubstantiated."
Considering legal action
A number of public figures and celebrities are said to have consulted lawyers over whether they can take legal action against the News of the World following claims that their phones were illegally hacked.
The victims are said to have included former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, PR agent Max Clifford, London mayor Boris Johnson and actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Telephone messages from football manager Sir Alex Ferguson and player Alan Shearer were also allegedly intercepted.
Despite Scotland Yard last night saying it will not launch a new investigation into the claims, it is understood that assistant commissioner John Yates has "begun contacting a number of people" to insure that the Met has taken all proper steps to make victims of the hacking were aware of their possible involvement.
The director of public prosecutions has also announced they are urgently reviewing evidence related to the alleged hacking.
Conservative leader David Cameron has continued to back the News of the World editor at the time, Andy Coulson, who now heads the Conservative party's media machine.
But he did criticise journalists guilty of what he called "unacceptable practices."
"Mr Chairman, that's fine with me."
Rupert Murdoch was asked to comment about the recent allegations on his Fox News American TV channel.
As picked up in the blogosphere the Fox News presenter Stuart Varney quickly back-downed after asking Murdoch about criminality in his media empire. Below is the exchange:
Stuart Varney, Fox Business: "One of the biggest names there is News Corporation’s chairman and chief executive officer, Rupert Murdoch, who joins us right now. Mr. Chairman, thanks very much for joining us. We appreciate it, sir."
Rupert Murdoch, News Corp: "Fine. Good afternoon."
Varney: "The story that is really buzzing all around the country and certainly here in New York, is that the News of the World, a News Corporation newspaper in Britain, used…"
Murdoch: "I’m not talking about that issue at all today. I’m sorry."
Varney: "OK. No worries, Mr. Chairman. That’s fine with me."
