Reporter arrested in probe of hacking
Source: Agencies |
April 15, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DETECTIVES said yesterday they had arrested another reporter over allegations of phone hacking by journalists at the top-selling British paper belonging to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp media group.
The arrest is the third in just over a week in a scandal that has already forced an admission of liability from the company's UK arm News International and led to the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman.
Detectives are investigating claims that journalists on the News of the World tabloid were hacking the phones of members of the royal family, politicians, celebrities and sports stars to listen to their voicemail messages.
Police said a 55-year-old man had been held on suspicion of conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications and unlawful interception of mobile phones.
A source close to News International, the parent company of Britain's top-selling paper, confirmed the man was one of the paper's senior reporters, James Weatherup.
Last week, detectives arrested Neville Thurlbeck, the paper's chief reporter, and Ian Edmondson, a former senior editor who was sacked after an internal inquiry.
Until last week, News International had always blamed rogue reporters for any hacking, first uncovered in 2005/6 when its royal reporter and a private detective were jailed for snooping on voicemail messages of royal aides.
But last Friday it admitted liability and said it would pay compensation in eight cases.
It has also written to nine others who claim their phones were hacked and who have started legal action against the group, asking them to provide more evidence.
Lawyers say the company could face a flood of claims which could cost 40 million pounds (US$65 million).
The Financial Times reported yesterday that the agent who represents England soccer player Wayne Rooney was also planning to sue the newspaper over claims his phone was hacked.
The arrest is the third in just over a week in a scandal that has already forced an admission of liability from the company's UK arm News International and led to the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman.
Detectives are investigating claims that journalists on the News of the World tabloid were hacking the phones of members of the royal family, politicians, celebrities and sports stars to listen to their voicemail messages.
Police said a 55-year-old man had been held on suspicion of conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications and unlawful interception of mobile phones.
A source close to News International, the parent company of Britain's top-selling paper, confirmed the man was one of the paper's senior reporters, James Weatherup.
Last week, detectives arrested Neville Thurlbeck, the paper's chief reporter, and Ian Edmondson, a former senior editor who was sacked after an internal inquiry.
Until last week, News International had always blamed rogue reporters for any hacking, first uncovered in 2005/6 when its royal reporter and a private detective were jailed for snooping on voicemail messages of royal aides.
But last Friday it admitted liability and said it would pay compensation in eight cases.
It has also written to nine others who claim their phones were hacked and who have started legal action against the group, asking them to provide more evidence.
Lawyers say the company could face a flood of claims which could cost 40 million pounds (US$65 million).
The Financial Times reported yesterday that the agent who represents England soccer player Wayne Rooney was also planning to sue the newspaper over claims his phone was hacked.
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