News International to say sorry to hacking victims

NoW publisher admits liability for hacking into phones of eight public figures and offers to set up compensation fund News International is to apologise and offer to pay damages to eight News of the World phone-hacking victims who are currently suing the paper, including actor Sienna Miller, former culture secretary Tessa Jowell and ex Sky Sports commentator Andy Gray. In one of the most dramatic apologies in the history of Fleet Street, Rupert Murdoch’s News International said its previous inquiries into phone-hacking were “not sufficiently robust” and issued an “unreserved apology” for the fact hacking took place at the News of the World. The others who will be offered apologies and damages are Jowell’s former husband David Mills, football agent Sky Andrew, publicist Nicola Phillips, Joan Hammell, an former aide to former deputy prime minister John Prescott, and interior designer Kelly Hoppen. News International will offer to pay damages and legal fees. In the Hoppen case, News International is admitting her phone was hacked into on several occasions from 2004 to 2006. It still contests her claim that her phone was hacked in 2009. News International is likely to offer to settle more cases. A total of 24 people have begun legal actions but the company believes that in many of the cases too little evidence has so far been produced to judge whether or not it was culpable. Others taking legal action including actors Steve Coogan and Leslie Ash. It will propose next week to Justice Vos, the high court judge in charge of all the hacking cases, that all the cases should be heard together. The publisher said: “Following an extensive internal investigation and disclosures through civil legal cases, News International has decided to approach some civil litigants with an unreserved apology and an admission of liability in cases meeting specific criteria. “We have also asked our lawyers to establish a compensation scheme with a view to dealing with justifiable claims fairly and efficiently.” It added: “We will, however, continue to contest cases that we believe are without merit or where we are not responsible.” No executives are expected to resign as a result of the apology. The Guardian revealed in July 2009 that News International had made secret payments totalling £1m to settle cases involving three people including Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA. News International claimed hacking at the paper was carried out by a “rogue reporter”, former royal editor Clive Goodman. He was jailed in January 2007 along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for illegally intercepting voicemail messages left on mobile phones belonging to members of the royal household. Andrew Neil, a former Murdoch executive and former Sunday Times editor, told BBC News: “I don’t think NI had anywhere else to go. The evidence was piling up against them. It may cost them a lot more than they think. There are plenty of other people involved. They are trying to close it down with their chequebook but I don’t think they’re going to succeed.” He added that settling civil actions would have no bearing on the criminal investigation currently being carried out by the Metropolitan police. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly “for publication”. • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook James Robinson guardian.co.uk

Posted by on April 8, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.