Jul 21, 2011 - which found evidence that phone hack- ing was ... hack the mobile of Milly Dowler, who went missing in ..
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The Guardian | Thursday 21 July 2011
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The Guardian | Thursday 21 July 2011
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guardian.co.uk/media ≥
Main players at News International
Media
NI
BSkyB bid
Hacking: what happened when
Politics
Victims
Police
11 June NoW’s royal correspondent, Clive Goodman, writes a story about medical treatment that Prince William received, information only a handful of the prince’s close aides knew about. The palace suspects interference with voicemail of royals and staff, and calls in Scotland Yard
May 29 Solicitors Harbottle & Lewis send letter to News International head of legal affairs Jon Chapman saying that they had reviewed emails from senior reporters and executives at News International (NI) and had not found anything “which appeared to us to be reasonable evidence that Clive Goodman’s illegal actions were known about and supported by both or either of Andy Coulson, the editor, and Neil Wallis, the deputy editor, and/or that Ian Edmondson, the news editor, and others were carrying out similar illegal procedures”
James Murdoch Deputy chief operating officer of News Corporation. Personally approved payoffs Elisabeth Murdoch and Matthew Freud Murdoch’s daughter and her husband are untainted by the phone hacking scandal. She was expected to take on a role in BSkyB’s UK business if the takeover deal had gone through Rebekah Brooks Chief executive of News International, who was initially protected by Rupert Murdoch, but forced to quit. Faces questions over hacking of Milly Dowler’s mobile, which took place when she edited the News of the World
2005
Some of those thought to have emerged as victims in 2006 Andy Gray, Sky Sports pundit; Boris Johnson, mayor of London; Elle MacPherson, model; George Galloway; Gordon Taylor, ex-chief executive of the Professional Footballer’s Association; Helen Asprey, aide to the Prince of Wales; Sir Ian Blair, ex-Met commissioner; Max Clifford; Sienna Miller; Simon Hughes; Sky Andrew; Steve Coogan; Tessa Jowell
2006
8 August Police arrest Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, seize computer records, paperwork and audiotapes
26 January Goodman and Mulcaire are jailed. Andy Coulson resigns as News of the World editor, claiming to have known nothing. He is succeeded by Colin Myler
Andy Gray
2003 Operation Motorman investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office into allegations of offences under the Data Protection Act by the British press
2004
2007
Elle Macpherson
George Galloway
Max Clifford
Andy Coulson, 29 September 2006
Sky Andrew
15 May The Press Complaints Commission publishes its hacking report, finding no further evidence of wrongdoing. To avoid a repeat of the controversy it makes recommendations to newspapers and magazines on monitoring payments to external contributors
7 December Rupert Murdoch to step down as BSkyB’s nonexecutive chairman to be replaced by his son, James. Long-term Murdoch ally Les Hinton leaves NI for Dow Jones
July NI gives Goodman a payoff because it failed to follow statutory procedures
July 9 Coulson becomes media adviser to David Cameron, leader of the opposition
Will Lewis NI’s general manager since July 2010. Reviewed internal emails and found they contained proof staff were involved in hacking and that Andy Coulson was aware illegal payments were made to police
Steve Coogan 6 March 2007 Les Hinton, chairman of NI gives evidence to MPs on the select committee on culture, media and sport. Asked if he had conducted “a full, rigorous internal inquiry” and was “absolutely convinced” Goodman was the only person who knew about the phone hacking, he said yes.
21 July Coulson tells the Commons culture, media and sport committee he has “never condoned the use of phone hacking and nor do I have any recollection of incidences where phone hacking took place”
15 & 16 Sept Les Hinton and Asst Comm Yates give evidence to the culture,media and sport committee. Hinton denies gagging Goodman with a payment
Les Hinton Lifelong Murdoch ally and former NI executive chairman who left to run Dow Jones in 2007 after it was bought by News Corp. Faced questions over whether he saw a 2007 internal NI report, which found evidence that phone hacking was more widespread than admitted by the company. Quit on the same day as Brooks
July Hayman becomes columnist at The Times
2009
9 July David Cameron on Coulson: “I believe in giving people a second chance. As director of communications for the Conservatives he does an excellent job in a proper, upright way at all times.”
9 July The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, sets up a team to conduct “an urgent examination of the material that was supplied by the police to the CPS” in the 2006 case
8 July Met police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson asks Asst Comm John Yates to review the original investigation for new evidence. In one eight-hour meeting, Yates did so, but did not take any further action
8 July The Guardian’s Nick Davies reveals that News Group paid more than £1m to settle legal cases that would have named other phone hacking journalists; his evidence suggests thousands more were victims 15 August The News of the World says its internal inquiries have not uncovered any further evidence of phone hacking
9 Nov A second Press Complaints Commission report finds no evidence it was “materially misled” by the NoW, adding that it cannot “help but conclude that the Guardian’s stories did not quite live up to the dramatic billing”
Colin Myler News of the World editor from 2007 to closure
April Andy Hayman, who led the police investigation into Goodman and Mulcaire retires from the force
Tom Crone NoW legal counsel, also alleged to have seen the internal report. Met James Murdoch in 2008 to seek permission to pay Gordon Taylor a six-figure sum to settle a phone-hacking claim
24 Feb Commons CM&S committee report accuses senior executives at NI of concealing the truth about the extent of phone hacking and finds it ‘inconceivable’ that Goodman acted alone
11 May Coulson becomes head of the new coalition government’s media operation after Cameron enters No 10 as PM
Jon Chapman NI’s former director of legal affairs, who has left the company Stuart Kuttner Quit in July 2009. Former NoW managing editor who signed off payments to sources Daniel Cloke NI director of human resources. He was aware of the payment to former NoW royal correspondent Clive Goodman, who was jailed in 2007
2011 21 Jan Andy Coulson resigns as Cameron’s director of communications
14 Mar BBC Panorama broadcasts Tabloid Hacks Exposed, which claims that former senior NoW executive editor Alex Marunchak is implicated in the scandal
15 April NoW suspends feature writer Dan Evans amid new hacking allegations 1 Sept The New York Times publishes claims by former NoW showbiz reporter Sean Hoare that Coulson knew his staff were carrying out illegal phone hacking. The story also raises questions about how vigorously Scotland Yard pursued the case. Hoare is later interviewed by police
5 Jan 2011 It is reported that Ian Edmondson, assistant editor (news) at the NoW was suspended at the end of 2010 as a result of an internal investigation
25 Jan Hunt announces he will delay decision over whether to refer the bid to the Competition Commission
10 July Ed Miliband calls on Murdoch to suspend his plans to take full control of BSkyB 16 July William Hague says inviting Coulson to Chequers after his resignation was a “human” thing for Cameron to do
8 July Guardian statement details its 2010 warning to Cameron on Coulson. Cameron suggests Brooks should have resigned
5 July Major advertisers, including Ford –withdraw from NoW after Twitter campaign 6 July Allegations that phones of Afghan and Iraq war widows were hacked. British Legion withdraws support from NoW
6 July Rupert Murdoch calls alleged hacking “deplorable and unacceptable” but backs Brooks at helm of NI 14 July Neil Wallis, former NoW executive arrested
15 July Brooks announces she has resigned as chief executive of NI. Les Hinton follows
11 July Gordon Brown claims other NI papers illegally obtained private information from his legal file and his son’s medical records 19 July It emerges that Neil Wallis was an adviser to the Conservative party in the run-up to the 2010 election
18 July Cameron cuts short his visit to Africa to address MPs on hacking scandal
Media
An exceptional and unhappy event in the 163-year history of the News of the World, involving one journalist Colin Myler, NoW editor, to PCC, May 2007
Andy will make a formidable contribution as a senior member of my team in building the most effective strategy and operation to win the next general election. I look forward very much to working with him
18 July Whistleblower Sean Hoare found dead in “unexplained circumstances”. LulzSec hacks the Sun’s website
News International
February Legal actions brought by the comedian Steve Coogan and the former Sky Sports presenter Andy Gray, lead to Glenn Mulcaire being ordered by the high court to reveal the names of executives who commissioned him
11 July Hunt refers bid to the Competition Commission, after News Corp reverses its decision to spin off Sky News
12 July Government backs calls from Labour and Lib Dems for BSkyB bid to be dropped 19 July Brooks, Rupert and James Murdoch face questioning from MPs.”This is the most humble day of my career,” says Murdoch
BSkyB bid
13 July News Corp withdraws the bid, preempting a Commons vote on an opposition motion urging it to drop the bid. Chase Carey, chief operating officer, says “it is too difficult to progress in this climate”
The victims
What I have failed to get across to the Guardian is that if they want a Press Complaints Commission that is in any way credible, it cannot produce reports based on anything other than substantiated facts PCC chair Baroness Buscombe, 22 September 2009
We have very, very, strict rules. There was one incident more than five years ago. The person who bought the bugged conversation was immediately fired. If anything was to come to light, and we have challenged those people who have made allegations to provide evidence ... we would take immediate action Rupert Murdoch, 15 October 2010
Following an extensive internal investigation and disclosures through civil legal cases, News International has decided to approach some civil litigants with an unreserved apology
It is inconceivable that I knew, or worse, sanctioned these appalling allegations. I am aware of the speculation about my position. Therefore it is important you all know that as chief executive, I am determined to lead the company to ensure we do the right thing Rebekah Brooks
Had I known then what I know now, all bets are off. I would never have reached this conclusion. I am accountable and it happened on my watch and it’s clear I could have done more
14 Sept Scotland Yard reopens its inquiry, looking only at “new” evidence and opting to question Sean Hoare and Peter McMullan as suspects, not witnesses. It later announces that prosecutors found no new evidence of crime
23 May Lord Prescott, ex-police commander Brian Paddick, journalist Brendan Montague and MP Chris Bryant win a high court bid for a judicial review into the police inquiry into hacking
14 April NoW journalist James Weatherup arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications 21 June Andy Gray accepts £20,000 in damages after his voicemail was intercepted by NoW. Paper reaches similar agreement with Sienna Miller, who was paid £100,000
9 July Yates expresses “extreme regret” over decision not to reopen police inquiry into hacking two years ago. Tells the Telegraph his decision was “pretty crap”
15 July Rupert Murdoch meets Dowler family to apologise in person
They caught us with dirty hands Rupert Murdoch at the select committee
27 Jan Operation Weeting is launched, under the specialist crime directorate of the Met, led by Dep Asst Comm Sue Akers. Operation Elveden - also headed by Akers - is launched, investigating allegations of inappropriate payments to the police, supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission
27 Jan Victims coming forward include Kelly Hoppen, interior designer and stepmother to Sienna Miller; actor Leslie Ash
5 July NI chief executive Rebekah Brooks says she is “appalled and shocked” by Milly Dowler revelations 7 July James Murdoch shuts NoW after 168 years
The Guardian coverage has, we believe, substantially and likely deliberately misled the British public
NI statement, 8 April 2011
September Sean Hoare interviewed under caution over his claims in the NYT
December Sienna Miller’s lawyers announce they have found new evidence in the material seized by Scotland Yard in August 2006
May Victims known to have come forward include Heather Mills; Hugh Grant; Ulrika Jonsson; former investigations editor at the Mail on Sunday Dennis Rice; Wayne Rooney; Ali Dizaei, Met police commander
8 April NI apologises to eight hacking victims and announces it is to set up a compensation scheme, to deal with ‘justifiable claims’ fairly and efficiently
News Corp statement
John Yates 9 July 2011
3 Nov News Corp formally asks the European Union to approve its proposed takeover of the remaining 60% of BSkyB
3 March Hunt approves News Corp proposal to split off Sky News from BSkyB, all but assuring that the takeover deal will go ahead
July 4-5 The Guardian reveals that the NoW hacked into voicemails left for Milly Dowler, when Rebekah Brooks was editor, and by deleting messages when the mailbox became full led her family to believe she was still alive
17 Sept The former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott and others launch legal action seeking a judicial review of the Scotland Yard investigation
11 Oct Coalition of media groups, including the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, the BBC, C4 and the Guardian petition Vince Cable, the business secretary, to consider blocking News Corp’s full takeover
17 Jan Glenn Mulcaire says he was commissioned by Ian Edmondson to hack phones
10 Mar Chris Bryant MP – a hacking victim – says in the Commons that friends were “warned off” pursuing the phone hacking scandal by associates of Rupert Murdoch
5 July Cameron calls the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone a “truly dreadful act”
Rupert Murdoch, February 2007
Assistant Met commissioner John Yates, 9 July 2009
15 June BSkyB directors knock back first full takeover proposal from News Corp
21 Dec After business secretary Vince Cable is caught on tape saying he had “declared war” against Rupert Murdoch and his BSkyB bid, culture secretary Jeremy Hunt given role of deciding if BSkyB bid should go to the Competition Commission
3 Sept The Guardian reveals that another phone hacking victim, Max Clifford, was paid £1m to drop legal action that would have named other NoW journalists
8 Sept A former NoW executive, Paul McMullan, tells the Guardian phone hacking and other illegal reporting techniques were rife at the tabloid
If you’re talking about illegal tapping by a private investigator, that is not part of our culture anywhere in the world, least of all in Britain
This case has been the subject of the most careful investigation by experienced detectives ... No additional evidence has come to light. I therefore consider no further investigation is required
2010
Andy Coulson NoW’s former editor, arrested in connection with illegal phonehacking and alleged corruption of police officers by journalists
Senior News International executive Les Hinton on whether NI had carried out a full inquiry and whether Goodman was the only person who knew what was going on, January 2007
David Cameron, July 2007
All of these irresponsible and unsubstantiated allegations against News of the World and other News International titles … are false
Letter from Rebekah Brooks to Commons culture committee chair, July 2009
Yes, we have and I believe he was the only person, but that investigation, under the new editor, continues
2008
Simon Greenberg NI’s director of corporate affairs, who has been defending the company in hostile TV interviews as its first communications chief
Politics
I apologise unreservedly on behalf of the News of the World. As the editor of the newspaper, I take ultimate responsibility for the conduct of my reporters. Clive Goodman’s actions were entirely wrong and I have put in place measures to ensure that they will not be repeated by any member of my staff
2003
Rupert Murdoch News Corporation chairman and chief executive
4 July
What they said …
June 2002 NoW journalists repeatedly hack the mobile of Milly Dowler, who went missing in March 2002 – deleting messages when the voicemail fills up. She was found murdered six months later
5 April NoW chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and Ian Edmondson are arrested on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages
6 July Met police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson says NI gave Scotland Yard documents indicating “inappropriate payments” were made to officers
16 July Met police deny that stay at luxury spa for Stephenson was arranged by former NoW deputy editor Neil Wallis. He resigns the following day, appearing before MPs on 19 July
Police
23 June Terenia Taras, who worked for NoW until 2005, and Laura Elston, a royal reporter for the Press Association, arrested in the phone hacking inquiry. Elston has been dropped from the inquiry and will face no further action
7 July Detectives say they have identified more than 4,000 potential victims of hacking
12 July Peter Clarke, former senior Met officer who oversaw original inquiry, says NI lied to police. Yates questioned by MPs
8 July Coulson, Goodman and a third man arrested then bailed. Police say they are investigating the deletion of NI emails
11 July Evidence emerges the NoW paid a royal protection officer for private phone numbers. Scotland Yard accuses NI of “undermining” its investigation into claims journalists bribed corrupt officers by leaking details to media
17 July Brooks arrested on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption
18 July Yates quits
