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UK hacking newspaper 'built on unholy and indefensible ground'
Source: Agencies |
November 17, 2011, Thursday
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RUPERT Murdoch's Sunday tabloid was an institutionally corrupt UK newspaper whose phone-hacking victims may have included the parents of a teenage murder victim, a lawyer for the victims said yesterday.
David Sherborne gave details about phone-hacking victims at a judge-led inquiry into UK media ethics set up after the scandal at the News of the World. Murdoch shut down the tabloid last summer after the worst allegations surfaced.
As Sherborne ran through the names, he told the inquiry the now-defunct tabloid's foundations "were built on manifestly unholy and indefensible ground."
He said the paper had eavesdropped on rival journalists' phones in the quest for scoops and may even have intercepted the voicemails of the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. The revelation earlier this year that the tabloid had hacked 13-year-old Milly's voicemails while she was missing but before her body was found proved the tipping point in the hacking scandal.
Many people in Britain shrugged off longstanding allegations that the tabloid had been spying on celebrities, sports stars and politicians. But the news it could have interfered with a police investigation into a missing girl revolted Britons and spawned an advertising boycott that forced the paper's closure.
UK police have said the number of potential hacking victims could hit 6,000, and possibly more.
Sherborne said yesterday the tabloid might have spied on Milly's anguished parents as well. He said a News of the World photographer snapped the parents walking where Milly was last seen. Somehow, Sherborne said, journalists knew exactly what time the walk was due to take place and where the parents were going.
"Their moment of grief was a photo opportunity too good to resist," Sherborne said. "Their voicemails, they suspect, were being listened to. High profile or not, there is no excuse for this kind of newsgathering."
He also mentioned a range of other hacking victims - including an intelligence officer, the unnamed partner of a celebrity and actors.
Sherborne, represents 51 alleged victims of press intrusion.
David Sherborne gave details about phone-hacking victims at a judge-led inquiry into UK media ethics set up after the scandal at the News of the World. Murdoch shut down the tabloid last summer after the worst allegations surfaced.
As Sherborne ran through the names, he told the inquiry the now-defunct tabloid's foundations "were built on manifestly unholy and indefensible ground."
He said the paper had eavesdropped on rival journalists' phones in the quest for scoops and may even have intercepted the voicemails of the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. The revelation earlier this year that the tabloid had hacked 13-year-old Milly's voicemails while she was missing but before her body was found proved the tipping point in the hacking scandal.
Many people in Britain shrugged off longstanding allegations that the tabloid had been spying on celebrities, sports stars and politicians. But the news it could have interfered with a police investigation into a missing girl revolted Britons and spawned an advertising boycott that forced the paper's closure.
UK police have said the number of potential hacking victims could hit 6,000, and possibly more.
Sherborne said yesterday the tabloid might have spied on Milly's anguished parents as well. He said a News of the World photographer snapped the parents walking where Milly was last seen. Somehow, Sherborne said, journalists knew exactly what time the walk was due to take place and where the parents were going.
"Their moment of grief was a photo opportunity too good to resist," Sherborne said. "Their voicemails, they suspect, were being listened to. High profile or not, there is no excuse for this kind of newsgathering."
He also mentioned a range of other hacking victims - including an intelligence officer, the unnamed partner of a celebrity and actors.
Sherborne, represents 51 alleged victims of press intrusion.
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