Hacked Off
The Independent picks up on allegations of phone hacking at Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) which apparently accepts that unlawful means were used to gather information on the private lives of people in the public eye.
Phone-hacking: The Piers Morgan connection - Mirror admits some stories during Morgan's tenure may have been obtained by illegal means
Company’s admission reflects badly on Morgan's 'Mirror'
By JAMES CUSICK - The Independent
The publisher of the Daily Mirror has admitted for the first time that articles likely to have been the product of illegal phone hacking appeared in editions of the newspaper during the period when Piers Morgan was its editor.
In new defence documents produced by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the company accepts that several stories which appeared in the Daily Mirror between 2002 and 2004 were likely to have involved “unlawful interceptions of voicemails” and the blagging of call data.
The publisher is currently fighting dozens of civil claims which allege a “widespread and habitual” use of hacking inside its three national titles.
The new admission relates to claims by Robert Ashworth, a former producer of Coronation Street. He alleges that between 2002 and 2004 – when Mr Morgan was at the helm of the Daily Mirror – all three of MGN’s national titles published articles containing private information relating to him and his family life with the actress Tracy Shaw, then one of the soap’s leading stars. Mr Morgan was editor of the Mirror when three stories about the actress and producer were published – one story appeared in January 2002 and two in May 2003.
He resigned from the Mirror in 2004 following the publication of fake photos that purported to show Iraqi war prisoners being abused by British soldiers. He went on to carve out a high-profile career in television, and was appointed the Mail Online’s US editor-at-large last month.
Mr Morgan was questioned by police over hacking allegations last year but has consistently denied knowingly publishing any story obtained through the method.
The People, then edited by Mark Thomas, ran three Ashworth stories – while the Sunday Mirror, then edited by Tina Weaver, published seven articles on the couple.
MGN’s admission, that all of the 13 Ashworth articles were likely, at least in part, to have involved the unlawful acts alleged by Mr Ashworth, is a major departure for the publisher. The company now clearly admits that “unauthorised acts” by some employees involved in the unlawful practice of intercepting phone messages did take place, and that specific stories were the result of hacking. The company however says it “cannot establish” and “does not know” the scale of the illegality.
In the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at the rival publisher News International, Paul Vickers – secretary and group legal director for Trinity Mirror, the holding company that owns MGN – told the Leveson inquiry in 2011 that he had held an internal inquiry into whether similar practices could have taken place within his company.
This consisted of writing to 43 senior executives who were asked if they had knowledge of illegality among their staff. His inquiry concluded that “no issues had been raised”.
Piers Morgan, Rebekah Brooks (then Wade) and Andy Coulson at a book launch in 2007 (Rex Features)
The company has spent most of the last three years denying hacking was practised by Mirror journalists. Last month, however, the publisher admitted liability and announced it would be paying out compensation to 10 hacking claimants including the former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and the actor Christopher Eccleston. MGN said it had set aside just under £10m to cover the costs of future claims.
Other hacking claims MGN has accepted liability for include those by the former creative director of the BBC, Alan Yentob, and the EastEnders soap stars Shane Richie and Lucy Benjamin.
Although MGN wanted its admission of liability to end the matter, the judge hearing the civil actions, Mr Justice Mann, ordered the company to set out clearly what acts of hacking it was admitting to, those which it denied, and when they took place. A civil trial remains scheduled for February next year.
MGN’s response to the Ashworth claim and others which alleged illegality across all Mirror titles will challenge Mr Morgan’s assertion that the Daily Mirror he ran did not employ Fleet Street’s “dark arts”. Those practices saw the conviction of the former News of the World editor and Downing Street spin doctor, Andy Coulson, of involvement in a conspiracy to phone hack earlier this year.
Tracy Shaw and Robert Ashworth pictured in 2001 (Rex Features)
Dan Evans, the former Sunday Mirror and News of the World journalist, who gave evidence at the hacking trial at the Old Bailey, pleaded guilty to hacking when he was working both at MGN and NI.
Mr Ashworth’s claim says the stories about him and his partner were based on information obtained through hacking. He states the private details they contained caused “tension and arguments” during a period when Ms Shaw was suffering from health-related issues. He later alleged in media interviews that his former wife was battling alcohol-related problems.
Until last month, MGN described claims against it as “wholly unsubstantiated” with senior executives insisting that “no wrongdoing” had taken place inside any Mirror newsroom and that “all our journalists work within the criminal law”. The Independent contacted Trinity Mirror to ask for further clarification about its admissions. The company declined to comment.
Tainted news? The suspect articles
Articles in Robert Ashworth’s hacking claim against Mirror Group
"Coro star future is not Shaw"
Daily Mirror, January 2002. Editor: Piers Morgan
"24/7 – Rovers and Out; Husband prang’s Corrie Tracy’s MG"
Sunday Mirror, March 2003. Editor: Tina Weaver
"24/7 – Tracy Shaw"
Sunday Mirror. March 2003. Editor: Tina Weaver
"Husband is divorcing TV’s Tracy"
The People, March 2003. Editor: Mark Thomas
"Tracy glows every time she speaks to Ashley..."
Sunday Mirror, April 2003. Editor: Tina Weaver
"Tracy’s marriage hit rocks over baby bid"
The People, April 2003. Editor: Mark Thomas
"Door shut on Tracy’s love hope"
Daily Mirror, May 2003. Editor: Piers Morgan.
"Are you Shaw Tracy?"
Daily Mirror, May 2003. Editor: Piers Morgan
"It breaks my heart but he loves Tracy"
Sunday Mirror, May 2003 Editor: Tina Weaver
"Tracy drinks mini-bar dry"
The People, July 2003. Editor: Mark Thomas
"Tracy’s retreat: Star’s with husband at health farm"
Sunday Mirror, July 2003. Editor: Tina Weaver
"Tracy checks into booze clinic"
Sunday Mirror , August 2003. Editor: Tina Weaver.
"Radar: Rob’s back… gingerly"
Sunday Mirror, May 2004. Editor: Tina Weaver.
You Heard It Here First! (26 September 2014)
So the truth about phone hacking finally comes trickling out and as this report from The Guardian demonstrates, News of the World and News International were not the only offenders.
The Labour supporting Mirror group were 'at it' as well and more names are likely to come tumbling out into the open in the days and weeks ahead, the only difference being that Trinity Mirror does not have such deep pockets as the News International stable.
Now I think it's fair to say that a lot of people, Labour MPs and newspaper columnists for example, kept their heads down and said nothing much about the widespread use of phone hacking while the focus of attention was on the News of the World.
So I'm pleased to say that, not for the first time, you heard it here first.
Phone hacking: Trinity Mirror to pay out over 10 claims
Claimants include ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, actor Christopher Eccleston and the BBC’s Alan Yentob
By Mark Sweney and Jane Martinson - The Guardian
Trinity Mirror is to pay out to 10 victims of alleged phone hacking, including Sven-Goran Eriksson. Photograph: Claudio Bresciani/PA
The publisher of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror has agreed to pay compensation to 10 victims of alleged phone hacking by its papers, including former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, actor Christopher Eccleston and BBC executive Alan Yentob.
Trinity Mirror – which also publishes the Sunday People – said on Wednesday that the alleged phone hacking took place “many years ago”.
Until now, the UK phone-hacking scandal has centred on Rupert Murdoch’s News International and its now closed News of the World newspaper. Trinity Mirror’s announcement confirms that the practice was more widespread than ever before admitted on what used to be known as Fleet Street.
Trinity Mirror said it had admitted liability to four individuals, apologised to them and agreed to pay compensation.
They are Yentob, the BBC creative director, EastEnders stars Shane Richie and Lucy Benjamin, and Coronation Street actor Shobna Gulati.
It added that it had already settled six other alleged phone-hacking claims and has agreed compensation.
These claimants are Eriksson, ex-footballer Garry Flitcroft, former Doctor Who star Eccleston, Richie’s wife Christie Roche and his agent Phil Dale, and Abbie Gibson, a former nanny for the Beckham family.
“The company today confirms that its subsidiary MGN Ltd has admitted liability to four individuals who had sued MGN for alleged interception of their voicemails many years ago,” said Trinity Mirror in a statement.
“MGN has apologised to those individuals and agreed to pay compensation. The amount of that compensation will be assessed by the court if it cannot be agreed.”
Trinity Mirror is understood to have set aside high single-digit millions to cover the costs of dealing with claims of phone hacking including the £4m announced in July this year.
There are understood to be 19 further individuals who have issued claims against Trinity Mirror with a further 10 known to be considering further action.
Mark Lewis, who acted for clients including Eriksson, Gibson, Gulati and Benjamin, said that the admission of hacking is likely to mean more claims against the publisher.
“Mirror Group initially repeated the mantra ‘all our journalists have complied with the criminal law and Press Complaints Commission code’,” he said.
“Their new chief executive, Simon Fox, indicated that a full internal investigation had been made and there was no substance in the allegations. This was completely wrong. It has finally come out that Mirror group journalists included people who did not follow the PCC code and the paper’s denials in the past have been false. There are many more people who will now be able to make claims against the Mirror Group titles in respect of their unlawful activities.”
Eriksson’s claim was filed in October 2012 and relates to a time when Piers Morgan edited the Daily Mirror. Morgan has denied any knowledge of phone hacking.
Trinity Mirror has always robustly defended itself against allegations of phone hacking at its titles. In January 2012 Sly Bailey, the former chief executive, explained why there had been no internal investigation to the Leveson inquiry by saying, “I don’t think it’s a way to conduct a healthy organisation to go around conducting investigations when there’s no evidence that our journalists have been involved in phone hacking.
“There was no evidence and we saw no reason to investigate. We have only seen unsubstantiated allegations and I have seen no evidence that phone hacking has ever taken place at Trinity Mirror.”
Shares in Trinity Mirror remained largely unmoved on the news.
The publisher of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror has agreed to pay compensation to 10 victims of alleged phone hacking by its papers, including former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, actor Christopher Eccleston and BBC executive Alan Yentob.
Trinity Mirror – which also publishes the Sunday People – said on Wednesday that the alleged phone hacking took place “many years ago”.
Until now, the UK phone-hacking scandal has centred on Rupert Murdoch’s News International and its now closed News of the World newspaper. Trinity Mirror’s announcement confirms that the practice was more widespread than ever before admitted on what used to be known as Fleet Street.
Trinity Mirror said it had admitted liability to four individuals, apologised to them and agreed to pay compensation.
They are Yentob, the BBC creative director, EastEnders stars Shane Richie and Lucy Benjamin, and Coronation Street actor Shobna Gulati.
It added that it had already settled six other alleged phone-hacking claims and has agreed compensation.
These claimants are Eriksson, ex-footballer Garry Flitcroft, former Doctor Who star Eccleston, Richie’s wife Christie Roche and his agent Phil Dale, and Abbie Gibson, a former nanny for the Beckham family.
“The company today confirms that its subsidiary MGN Ltd has admitted liability to four individuals who had sued MGN for alleged interception of their voicemails many years ago,” said Trinity Mirror in a statement.
“MGN has apologised to those individuals and agreed to pay compensation. The amount of that compensation will be assessed by the court if it cannot be agreed.”
Trinity Mirror is understood to have set aside high single-digit millions to cover the costs of dealing with claims of phone hacking including the £4m announced in July this year.
There are understood to be 19 further individuals who have issued claims against Trinity Mirror with a further 10 known to be considering further action.
Mark Lewis, who acted for clients including Eriksson, Gibson, Gulati and Benjamin, said that the admission of hacking is likely to mean more claims against the publisher.
“Mirror Group initially repeated the mantra ‘all our journalists have complied with the criminal law and Press Complaints Commission code’,” he said.
“Their new chief executive, Simon Fox, indicated that a full internal investigation had been made and there was no substance in the allegations. This was completely wrong. It has finally come out that Mirror group journalists included people who did not follow the PCC code and the paper’s denials in the past have been false. There are many more people who will now be able to make claims against the Mirror Group titles in respect of their unlawful activities.”
Eriksson’s claim was filed in October 2012 and relates to a time when Piers Morgan edited the Daily Mirror. Morgan has denied any knowledge of phone hacking.
Trinity Mirror has always robustly defended itself against allegations of phone hacking at its titles. In January 2012 Sly Bailey, the former chief executive, explained why there had been no internal investigation to the Leveson inquiry by saying, “I don’t think it’s a way to conduct a healthy organisation to go around conducting investigations when there’s no evidence that our journalists have been involved in phone hacking.
“There was no evidence and we saw no reason to investigate. We have only seen unsubstantiated allegations and I have seen no evidence that phone hacking has ever taken place at Trinity Mirror.”
Shares in Trinity Mirror remained largely unmoved on the news.
Phone Hacking (1 August 2011)
I wrote a piece for the blog site on phone hacking last year - which said basically that there's a lot of it about - and not just at the News of the World either.
So here's the original post from 8 September 2010 - which doesn't make me clairvoyant of course - quite the opposite.
Simply means that I've been round the track once or twice - and learned to take what some people say - with a great big pinch of salt.
Maybe I should offer to give evidence to the forthcoming Leveson public inquiry.
Now that would be interesting - fun even - because I imagine it will be full of the great and the good - from right across the political spectrum - trying to re-write their part in history.
Turning a Blind Eye (8 September 2010)
What I know about phone hacking you could write on the back of a postage stamp.
But what I also know about phone hacking is that it's more common than you think - allegedly.
Journalists I've met in the past have been happy to share the darker secrets of their trade - the argument goes that the ends justify the means - if you're trying to expose some real wrongdoing.
The counter argument is - of course - that two wrongs don't make a right - so you pay your money and take your choice.
But there is always an unwritten rule - if you get caught, you're on your own - because no editor or newspaper would ever take the rap.
While those at the top might be well aware of what's going on - they would never accept any responsibility for encouraging such practices.
Goes on in all walks of life I suppose - people turning a blind eye to something they know to be wrong - but who take the easy option and just walk on.
Pay discrimination springs to mind - treating some jobs or people more favourably than others.
Now that's unlawful - but it's amazing how many people have been prepared to turn a blind eye to that issue - for the past 10 years and more.
So here's the original post from 8 September 2010 - which doesn't make me clairvoyant of course - quite the opposite.
Simply means that I've been round the track once or twice - and learned to take what some people say - with a great big pinch of salt.
Maybe I should offer to give evidence to the forthcoming Leveson public inquiry.
Now that would be interesting - fun even - because I imagine it will be full of the great and the good - from right across the political spectrum - trying to re-write their part in history.
Turning a Blind Eye (8 September 2010)
What I know about phone hacking you could write on the back of a postage stamp.
But what I also know about phone hacking is that it's more common than you think - allegedly.
Journalists I've met in the past have been happy to share the darker secrets of their trade - the argument goes that the ends justify the means - if you're trying to expose some real wrongdoing.
The counter argument is - of course - that two wrongs don't make a right - so you pay your money and take your choice.
But there is always an unwritten rule - if you get caught, you're on your own - because no editor or newspaper would ever take the rap.
While those at the top might be well aware of what's going on - they would never accept any responsibility for encouraging such practices.
Goes on in all walks of life I suppose - people turning a blind eye to something they know to be wrong - but who take the easy option and just walk on.
Pay discrimination springs to mind - treating some jobs or people more favourably than others.
Now that's unlawful - but it's amazing how many people have been prepared to turn a blind eye to that issue - for the past 10 years and more.
