Phone Hacking: The News of the World
In April 2011 the NOTW printed a formal apology and set up a £20m compensation fund. Many have called for there to be a full, transparent investigation. The impact on tabloid journalistic practices is set to be significant.
Timeline:
2006
The investigation was originally sparked after Prince William became suspicious about the source of a November 2005 News of the World article concerning his knee injury.
Royal correspondents Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire were both jailed in 2006 after being pleading guilty of plotting to intercept voicemail messages of figures including Elle McPherson, Max Clifford, Simon Hughes MP, football agent Skylet Andrew and the Professional Footballer’s Association’s Gordon Taylor.
The paper's editor Andy Coulson later resigned, saying he took responsibility for the scandal.
Goodman and Mulcaire subsequently both won unfair dismissal claims.
2009
The Guardian publishes a story revealing that News Group newspapers have paid more than £1m to settle legal cases that threatened to reveal evidence of its journalists' repeated involvement in the use of criminal methods to get stories. The piece cites two sources who suggest News Group staff were using private investigators to hack into thousands of mobile phones.
November: The PCC says there is 'no new evidence' of widespread phone-hacking at the News of the World
2010
In February 2010 the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, under the chairmanship of Conservative MP John Whittingdale, reported on the phone hacking affair as part of a wide-ranging report into privacy and libel issues.
Publicist Max Clifford goes to court to seek disclosure of documents that he claims show News of the World investigators intercepted messages on his mobile phone.
Three leading mobile phone companies tell the Guardian that they have discovered a total of more than 100 customers whose voicemail was accessed by Glenn Mulcaire and Clive Goodman.
The New York Times publishes a 6,000-word essay on the scandal, which quotes a named journalist as saying that Coulson "actively encouraged" him to engage in phone-hacking.
2011
In lieu of criminal proceedings, several public figures commenced litigation against the News of the World owner and the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. Those who began legal action included the football agent Sky Andrew, the actors Sienna Miller and Steve Coogan, and the television presenter Chris Tarrant and ex-employee of Sky Sports, Andy Gray.
Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, resigned from his position as David Cameron's communications director on 21 January 2011, citing "continued coverage of events connected to my old job at the News of the World".
The Metropolitan Police announced on 26 January 2011 that it would begin a new investigation into the phone hacking affair, following the receipt of "significant new information" regarding the conduct of News of the World employees.
On 5th April, the News of the World's chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, 50, and former news editor Ian Edmondson, 42, were arrested on suspicion of having unlawfully intercepted voicemail messages. They were released on bail until September.
On 8th April, News International issues an apology that is reprinted in the NOTW on Sunday 10th April. NI states that “This [apology] will begin the process of bringing these cases to a fair resolution with damages appropriate to the extent of the intrusion”.
Lawyers for public figures who have been targeted, including Charlotte Harris of Mishcon de Reya, claim the apology does not go far enough and that they will seek full disclosure of why, how and for how long these criminal practices took place.
Charlotte Harris, Media Lawyer, Mishcon de Reya
Charlotte Harris, a media lawyer at Mishcon de Reya is representing several people involved in this case, including Sky Andrew, Leslie Ash, Lee Chapman and their children as well as several MPs and public figures.