News

News

Leveson Inquiry reveals scale of alleged phone hacking by NI

14/11/2011

New information on the alleged scale of phone hacking by News International journalists has come to light at the first Leveson Inquiry hearing today.Robert Jay QC, the Inquiry Counsel, told Lord Justice Leveson in court 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice, that "the Sun" and "the Mirror" were 'corner names' (those commissioning hacking transactions, written in the corner of the notebook) in private investigator Glenn Mulcaire's notebooks.He also revealed that at the time of the trial of Mr Mulcaire and NoW royal correspondent Clive Goodman in 2005/06, five other NI employees, referred to as A, B, C, D and I, commissioned information from Mr Mulcaire.Mr Jay told the Inquiry there was evidence in Mulcaire's notebooks of 2266 'taskings', and about 28 legible ‘corner names’. He said four journalists accounted for 2,143 of those 'taskings'.According to the QC, when police raided Mr Mulcaire's offices in 2006, they also found 690 audio recordings along with notebooks. Thirty eight of those recordings are of Mr Mulcaire's 'blaggings'.In addition, Mr Jay said 586 voicemail messages, intended for 64 people were intercepted by Mr Mulcaire between 2004 and 2006, as well as 318 calls made to voicemail numbers.Lord Justice Leveson, opening the proceedings, said the inquiry would be asking one simple question: "Who guards the guardians?"Freedom of the press and freedom of expression must be exercised "with the rights of others in mind", he said.The judge had previously asked newspaper editors to make suggestions of new approaches to press regulation.He said: "Those ideas must reflect the fundamental freedoms to which I have referred."He added: "But it must also recognise that 'guard the guardians' is not an optional add-on."Neither is it good enough if it does not take account of the legitimate public concern, not only about phone hacking, but also other unethical behaviour not justified by what is truly in the public interest."

Download the full report:

Download report

Queries: campaign@hackinginquiry.org

related Posts

Defensive, evasive & hypocritical: The press reaction to the death of Jason Arday
The reaction of national newspapers to the death of Professor Jason Arday has exposed a brittle defensiveness at the heart of the press, and a determination to remain outside any meaningful accountability.
8/26/26
News
When media abuse of academics becomes the norm in HE
Following the death of Jason Arday, Corinne Fowler writes on the toll of media abuse on academics and what universities must do to protect their staff.
8/19/26
News
Reporting montage
Professor Arday, IPSO, and the press: steps to end the cycle of tragedy
Guest blog: Professor Paul Wragg, Professor of Media Law at the University of Leeds, on why the press hounding of Professor Jason Arday will happen again unless politicians act.
8/16/26
News
IPSO ties itself in knots over Telegraph complaint
Media lawyer Jonathan Coad complained to IPSO about a Telegraph article claiming Hacked Off wants "state control" of the press. IPSO's response contradicted itself within the space of a few paragraphs.
8/14/26
News