2009–2011 News of the World phone hacking scandal investigations

none News of the World The News of the World phone hacking scandal investigations''' followed the revelations in 2005 of voicemail interception on behalf of News of the World. Despite wider evidence of wrongdoing, the News of the World royal phone hacking scandal appeared resolved with the 2007 conviction of the News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman and the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, and the resignation of editor Andy Coulson. However, a series of civil legal cases and investigations by newspapers, parliament and the police ultimately saw evidence of "industrial scale" phone hacking, leading to the closure of the News of the World on 10 July 2011. However, the affair did not end there, developing into the News Corporation ethics scandal as wrongdoing beyond the News of the World (including the United States) and beyond phone hacking (including paying police for information) came to light. Civil legal cases The News of the World royal phone hacking scandal had raised evidence of victims being targeted outside the Royal Family, but this evidence did not lead to criminal proceedings. In lieu of criminal proceedings, several public figures commenced litigation against the News of the Worlds owner News International and against the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. Those who began legal action included the football agent Sky Andrew,2011-03-16 Phone-hacking case: Sky Andrew's lawyers seek details https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-12756822 2025-06-30 BBC News en-GB actress Sienna Miller,Hill Amelia Robinson James 2011-05-13 Phone hacking: Sienna Miller accepts £100,000 from News of the World https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/may/13/phone-hacking-sienna-miller-news-of-the-world 2025-06-30 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 actor Steve Coogan,Kemp Stuart 2011-08-19 Steve Coogan Legal Action Likely to Reveal High Profile Names in Phone-Hacking Scandal https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/steve-coogan-legal-action-reveal-225450/ 2025-06-30 The Hollywood Reporter en-US television presenter Chris TarrantDavies Nick 2010-09-13 Phone hacking: Steve Coogan and Chris Tarrant latest stars to take legal action https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/sep/13/phone-hacking-coogan-tarrant 2025-06-30 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 and football pundit Andy Gray.Sky Sports' Andy Gray determined to settle score, documents show http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/sky-sports-andy-gray-determined-to-settle-score-documents-show-2178131.html https://web.archive.org/web/20220707054839/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/sky-sports-andy-gray-determined-to-settle-score-documents-show-2178131.html 2022-07-07 2025-06-30 The Independent en-GB In December 2009, footballer Sol Campbell instructed his solicitor to contact the police in response to various media reports. The Max Clifford case, which in early 2010 had appeared to make likely the disclosure of previously secret News of the World documents, was settled out of court in March 2010, keeping the documents secret. The next month, reports of further legal action against the News of the World emerged. Those considering litigation against the paper included a football agent and ten MPs. The legal action re-opened the possibility of details emerging that the settlement with Clifford had kept secret.The Observer, 25 April 2010, New claims of phone hacking put pressure on Andy Coulson Max Clifford case, 2010 In March 2010 the News of the World settled out-of-court a case brought against it by publicist Max Clifford for intercepting his voicemail. After a lunch with Rebekah Brooks, the paper agreed to pay Clifford's legal fees and an undisclosed "personal payment" not described as damages, with the sum exceeding £1 million. The money was paid in exchange for Clifford giving the News of the World exclusive stories over the next several years.https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/magazine/05hacking-t.html Tabloid Hack Attack on Royals, and Beyond 1 September 2010 The New York Times 7 July 2011 Londonhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/feb/03/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking News of the World loses battle over secret phone hacking evidence Evans Rob 3 February 2010 The Guardian 4 February 2010 The case had been expected to reveal the details of previous settlements the paper had made, including the £1 million spent in 2009, settling with three phone hacking victims, and the unfair dismissal claim won by Clive Goodman.The Guardian, 9 March 2010, Max Clifford drops News of the World phone hacking action in £1m deal Clifford had won court rulings in February earlier that year that meant that the News of the World would have had to disclose previously secret information regarding which journalists were involved in hacking voicemail messages. A judge ruled that Glenn Mulcaire had to disclose the names of all the journalists who targeted Clifford and also those who received transcripts of the messages. With the eventual settlement, however, the information was not made public. HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan A report aired on Channel 4's Dispatches in October included remarks made by an unnamed source said to have been a former senior journalist at the News of the World who had worked alongside Coulson. The source alleged that Coulson had personally listened to messages obtained through phone hacking. Phone-hacking scandal: Andy Coulson 'listened to intercepted messages' The Guardian 3 October 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/oct/03/phone-hacking-scandal-andy-coulson 5 October 2010 London Nick Davies Andy Coulson listened to hacked messages, former colleague says The Spy Report Media Spy 4 October 2010 http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/10/04/uk-andy-coulson-listened-to-hacked-messages-former-colleague-says/ 5 October 2010 In December 2010, Coulson – while under oath as a witness in HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan – denied any knowledge of phone hacking at the News of the World or that he knew the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. Andy Coulson denies phone hacking at Tommy Sheridan trial Carrell, Severin Davies, Nick The Guardian UK 9 December 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/09/andy-coulson-phone-hacking-sheridan 9 April 2011 The following day, the Crown Prosecution Service said that it had determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge Coulson over allegations that he was aware of phone hacking at the publication. The CPS said that witnesses interviewed by the Metropolitan Police – including those who had previously made allegations through media outlets – had not been willing to provide admissible evidence. Coulson won't be prosecuted over phone-hacking The Spy Report Media Spy 11 December 2010 http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/11/uk-coulson-wont-be-prosecuted-over-phone-hacking/ 11 December 2010 Sienna Miller case New allegations about the conduct of News of the World executives emerged in December 2010. Papers lodged in the High Court by lawyers acting for Sienna Miller claimed to have uncovered evidence of the involvement of Ian Edmondson, a senior editor at the paper, in work undertaken by Mulcaire. Phone hacking approved by top News of the World executive – new files The Guardian UK 15 December 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/15/phone-hacking-sienna-miller-evidence 12 January 2011 Nick Davies Newspaper investigations The Guardian 2009 Beginning on 8 July 2009,Davies Nick https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/08/murdoch-newspapers-phone-hacking Trail of hacking and deceit under nose of Tory PR chief The Guardian UK 8 July 2009 13 December 2009 The Guardian made a series of allegations that the phone hacking activities at the News of the World went far beyond the activities for which the News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed in 2007, those activities being limited to members of the royal household. The paper alleged that hacking victims included public figures such as former deputy prime minister John Prescott,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8141615.stm Prescott calls for hacking probe BBC News 9 July 2009 5 April 2010 Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, Tessa Jowell when she was Olympics Secretary, Boris Johnson when he was the opposition's spokesman on higher education,https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/feb/01/now-phone-hacking-scandal News of the World pair hacked into 100 mobile accounts Davies Nick 1 February 2010 The Guardian UK 4 February 2010 publicist Max Clifford and even Rebekah Brooks, then editor of the News of the Worlds sister paper The Sun.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8143552.stm Stars 'may sue' over phone claims BBC News 10 July 2009 5 April 2010 In addition to this The Guardian reported that News Group – the News of the World's parent company – paid out more than £1m to settle legal cases that threatened to reveal evidence of News of the World journalists using criminal methods (accessing mobile phone voicemails of various public figures) to obtain stories.Nick Davies, "Murdoch papers paid £1m to gag phone-hacking victims", The Guardian, 8 July 2009 The article further reported sources as stating that News Group staff used private investigators to access several thousand mobile phone accounts. The News of the World denied The Guardians claims, and its parent company, News Corporation, implored its competitor newspaper to share any evidence it had with police. http://www.newscorp.com/news/bunews_40.html News International Statement on Guardian Article News Corporation newscorp.com 10 July 2009 13 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20110709161837/http://www.newscorp.com/news/bunews_40.html 2011-07-09 dead Prescott in particular was outraged at the fact that the police did not inform him of the phone tapping, but Assistant Commissioner John Yates stated that there was no actual evidence that Prescott's phone had been tapped."Prescott: Police decision 'so quick'". BBC News. Contrary to claims made by News of the World in 2007, The Guardian in July 2009 claimed that phone hacking activities were known to a range of staff at the tabloid including its then editor Andy Coulson. At the time The Guardian made these claims, Coulson had left News International and was director of Conservative Party communications and planning. Due to this, some claimed that the reporting was politically motivated.Montgomerie Tim https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/jul/12/coulson-murdoch-sky-phone-hacking This is about revenge, not phone taps The Guardian UK 12 July 2009 13 December 2009 The Conservative Party was quick to stand by Coulson.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8143893.stm Cameron gives new backing to aide BBC News 10 July 2009 5 April 2010 The Guardian also reported that the News of the World had made payments in excess of £1 million to three people subject to phone hacking, including Professional Footballers' Association chairman Gordon Taylor, with the out-of-court settlements subject to secrecy clauses.The Guardian, 9 December 2009, MPs' phone-hacking report delayed as Rebekah Brooks called to give evidence Around the same time, Private Eye revealed that The Guardian had, in order to avoid "all out war" with the News of the World, chosen not to tell the same Culture, Media and Sport Committee that the £700,000 payment to Taylor was signed off in June 2008, by the directors of News Group Newspapers, the News International subsidiary owning the News of the World - thus showing awareness of the matter at the highest levels.Private Eye (1241) The reports led the Press Complaints Commission to reopen its inquiry into the matter (finding that it had not been "materially misled",The Guardian, 9 November 2009, PCC finds no evidence that it was misled in phone hacking inquiry leading The Guardian'''s editor Alan Rusbridger to resign from the PCC) and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to reopen its inquiry. 2010 In January 2010, The Guardian revealed the out of court payment to Goodman on grounds of settling an unfair dismissal case, and the later subsequent payment to Mulcaire.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jan/08/news-international-clive-goodman News International admits payout to phone-hacker was for unfair dismissal James Robinson The Guardian 8 January 2010 17 July 2011 This started a new series of both newspaper stories, and subsequent further written questions from the Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport, to both News International and its executives. In February 2010, The Guardian reported that three mobile phone companies had discovered that the voicemails of over a hundred of their customers had been hacked. The companies identified the customers in 2007, after Scotland Yard disclosed numbers that had been accessed by Goodman and Mulcaire. A freedom of information request by The Guardian found that the police had recovered 91 PIN codes for accessing other people's voicemails in material seized from Mulcaire and Goodman. In April 2010, it was revealed from Crown Prosecution Service documents that although police had named only eight individuals in court, the Scotland Yard inquiry had actually uncovered over 4,000 names or partial names and nearly 3,000 full or partial telephone numbers from the materials seized from Mulcaire and Goodman.Nick Davies. "Police 'ignored News of the World phone hacking evidence'". The Guardian. 4 April 2010. In February 2010 The Guardian revealed that under Coulson the News of the World had rehired a private investigator shortly after his release from a seven-year prison sentence for blackmail. The News of the World had used the investigator prior to his imprisonment, at a time when Coulson was deputy editor. In February 2010, The Guardian could not name Jonathan Rees as he was involved in a new criminal trial.Nick Davies, guardian.co.uk, 24 February 2010, Andy Coulson hit by new tabloid trick charges In September 2010 The Guardian revealed that in 2009 plans by the Home Office to ask Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to review the police investigation into the phone hacking scandal were cancelled "after intense internal lobbying", with a senior Home Office official warning that the Metropolitan Police would "deeply resent" an inquiry.Nick Davies, Nicholas Watt and Vikram Dodd, guardian.co.uk, 6 September 2010, Phone-hacking inquiry was abandoned to avoid upsetting police Several days later the paper revealed comments by former News of the World journalist Paul McMullan on how widespread phone hacking had been under Andy Coulson; McMullan was one of six former News of the World journalists "who have independently told the Guardian that Coulson ... knew that his reporters were engaging in unlawful acts.".Nick Davies, guardian.co.uk, 8 September 2010, Phone hacking was rife at News of the World, claims new witness The New York Times In September 2010, The New York Times published the results of an investigation it had begun in March which revealed further details about the extent of the News of the Worlds phone hacking, and about editor Andy Coulson's alleged knowledge of it. Tabloid Hack Attack on Royals, and Beyond The New York Times 1 September 2010 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/magazine/05hacking-t.html 8 September 2010 Don Van Natta Jr Jo Becker Graham Bowley The investigation also revealed that a journalist at the News of the World had been attempting to hack into the voicemail messages of a "television personality" in 2010. The journalist was suspended from reporting and faced legal action by the personality.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/sep/02/news-of-the-world-watchdog News of the World told press watchdog of fresh phone-hacking allegation The Guardian 2 September 2010 2 September 2010 London Jason Deans The Times piece cited Sean Hoare, a former colleague, as saying that Coulson had "actively encouraged" phone hacking. Coulson denied the claims and indicated that he would allow himself to be questioned by the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the phone hacking affair. Met Police to re-examine News of the World hacking case BBC News 6 September 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11195220 8 September 2010 Press Complaints Commission investigations The Guardian's 2009 investigation led the Press Complaints Commission to reopen its inquiry into the matter (finding that it had not been "materially misled", leading The Guardians editor Alan Rusbridger to resign from the PCC) and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to reopen its inquiry. Police investigations 2009 review of original investigation In light of the new allegations in The Guardian in July 2009, the Metropolitan Police Service commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson asked his assistant commissioner John Yates to review the original 2006 investigation for new evidence. In one 8-hour meeting, Yates reviewed the investigation and decided not to take any further action. In a public statement later, and in a July 2009, appearance at the Home Affairs Select Committee, he said of the initial investigation that he "found it to be satisfactory."https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/john-yatess-confession-prompts-calls-for-him-to-step-down-2311634.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/john-yatess-confession-prompts-calls-for-him-to-step-down-2311634.html 2022-05-01 subscription John Yates's confession prompts calls for him to step down Matt Blake The Independent 11 July 2011 18 July 2011 In a direct response to John Prescott, who had been particular outraged at the fact that police did not inform him of his phone being hacked, Yates specifically stated that there was no material evidence that Prescott's phone had been hacked.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8143656.stm Prescott: Police decision 'so quick' BBC News 10 July 2009 5 April 2010 Yates then passed his findings back to the Chief Constable, and in agreement with lawyers and the head of the Crown Prosecution Service Keir Starmer, agreed that no further action need be taken, and the case not re-opened.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/09/john-yates-massive-regret-phone-hacking-investigation John Yates expresses 'massive regret' over phone hacking investigation Cherry Wilson The Guardian 9 July 2011 18 July 2011 The Metropolitan Police hence declined to re-open their hacking inquiry in response to the claims in The Guardian stating that "no additional evidence has come to light" and it "therefore consider[ed] that no further investigation is required".http://cms.met.police.uk/met/news/major_operational_announcements/statement_from_ac_john_yates https://web.archive.org/web/20090715180446/http://cms.met.police.uk/met/news/major_operational_announcements/statement_from_ac_john_yates dead 15 July 2009 Statement from AC John Yates Metropolitan Police met.police.uk 9 July 2009 13 December 2009 2010 The original Metropolitan Police investigation attracted renewed attention in April 2010, when it emerged that Andy Hayman, an assistant commissioner and the officer responsible for overseeing the original 2006 Scotland Yard inquiry, had quit the police force to work for News International as a columnist. In September 2010, with the opening of parliamentary inquiries following The New York Times investigation, the Metropolitan Police also indicated its intention to re-examine the allegations regarding the News of the World, saying that it would consider new information that it had received. 2011 In January 2011, following evidence emerging from the civil case by Sienna Miller, the Crown Prosecution Service announced a review of the evidence collected during the Metropolitan Police's original investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World. Prosecutor orders review of phone-hacking evidence The Spy Report Media Spy 15 January 2011 http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/01/15/uk-prosecutor-orders-review-of-phone-hacking-evidence/ 19 January 2011 The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, said that the decision was motivated in part by developments in the civil courts. DPP to revisit case for phone-hack prosecution Press Association 14 January 2011 http://www.pressassociation.com/component/pafeeds/2011/01/14/cps_will_assess_phone_hacking_files?camefrom=home 19 January 2011 In April 2011 the Metropolitan Police admitted that in the previous four years it had only contacted 36 people to warn them that they might have been victims of phone hacking.The Guardian, 26 April 2011, Phone hacking: Met admits to only warning 36 people they may be targeted Operation Weeting Operation Weeting The Metropolitan Police announced on 26 January 2011, that it would begin a new and fresh investigation into the phone hacking affair, following the receipt of "significant new information" regarding the conduct of News of the World employees.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/19/news-corp-police-payments-macdonald News Corp board shocked at evidence of payments to police, says former DPP Owen Bowcott The Guardian 19 July 2011 19 July 2011 Operation Weeting would take place alongside the previously announced review of phone hacking evidence by the Crown Prosecution Service. News executive sacked, as police begin new phone-hacking probe The Spy Report Media Spy 27 January 2011 http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/01/27/uk-news-executive-sacked-as-police-begin-new-phone-hacking-probe/ 28 January 2011 29 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110829120327/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/01/27/uk-news-executive-sacked-as-police-begin-new-phone-hacking-probe/ dead Parliamentary investigations In December 2009, a parliamentary question was tabled about the possible tapping of minister Tessa Jowell's phone.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/minister-embroiled-in-hacking-row-over-voicemail-messages-1835028.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/minister-embroiled-in-hacking-row-over-voicemail-messages-1835028.html 2022-05-01 subscription Minister embroiled in hacking row over voicemail messages The Independent 6 December 2009 19 July 2011 Select Committee report (2009 – February 2010) Tom Watson, the Labour MP for West Bromwich East, played a key role in bringing the revelations about phone hacking into the open. Watson was concerned by alleged press misconduct, as were his colleagues Chris Bryant, the MP for Rhondda, Khalid Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, and Siôn Simon, then MP for Birmingham Erdington.http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/07/the-tom-watson-story-the-man-w.html The Tom Watson Story: The man who took on Rupert Murdoch and won Walker Jonathon 2011-07-08 Birmingham Post 8 July 2011 2011-07-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110717004650/http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/07/the-tom-watson-story-the-man-w.html dead Watson joined the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in 2009, under the chairmanship of Conservative MP John Whittingdale, specifically to pose questions to leading figures in News International about the ethics at both The Sun and the News of the World, and allowing him to quiz Andy Coulson, who was director of communications for the Conservative Party, about his role at the News of the World.http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/07/the-tom-watson-story-the-man-w.html The Tom Watson Story: The man who took on Rupert Murdoch and won Birmingham Post 2011-07-08 2011-07-12 2011-07-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110717004650/http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/07/the-tom-watson-story-the-man-w.html dead Walker Jonathan http://www.birminghampost.net/news/politics-news/2011/04/17/west-bromwich-mp-tom-watson-and-the-battle-to-expose-phone-hacking-65233-28537239/ West Bromwich MP Tom Watson and the battle to expose phone hacking Birmingham Post 2011-07-12http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/06/tom-watson-on-the-powerful-for.html Tom Watson on the "powerful forces" covering up phone hacking Birmingham Post 2011-07-12 2011-10-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20111005060339/http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/06/tom-watson-on-the-powerful-for.html dead In July 2009, in evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into privacy and libel issues that also covered the phone hacking affair, News of the World editor Colin Myler placed on record that a sum of £700,000 was agreed to be paid to PFA chief Gordon Taylor by News International's head of legal affairs, Tom Crone. This was supported and agreed by Myler, with final approval given from News International executive chairman James Murdoch.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/21/james-murdoch-gordon-taylor James Murdoch 'agreed with payout to Gordon Taylor for privacy claim' Stephen Brook The Guardian 21 July 2009 19 July 2011 On 24 February 2010, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee issued their report.The Guardian, 24 February 2010, News of the World phone-hacking scandal: the verdicts It condemned the testimony of the News of the World witnesses, referring to "collective amnesia" and "deliberate obfuscation", and noted News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks' refusal to appear at all. The Committee concluded: We strongly condemn this behaviour which reinforces the widely held impression that the press generally regard themselves as unaccountable and that News International in particular has sought to conceal the truth about what really occurred.The Guardian, 24 February 2010, MPs' verdict on News of the World phone-hacking scandal: Amnesia, obfuscation and hush money Other News International newspapers, including The Sun and The Times, downplayed the report, devoting minimal coverage to it and emphasising the News of the World'''s response.The Guardian, 25 February 2010, The Sun and the Times keep quiet about phone hacking New inquiries (September 2010) In the wake of the renewed allegations in September 2010, from The New York Times, the Home Affairs Select Committee in London opened a new inquiry into phone hacking. New inquiry into phone-hacking at News of the World The Spy Report Media Spy 8 September 2010 http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/09/08/uk-new-inquiry-into-phone-hacking-at-news-of-the-world/ 8 September 2010 Two days after the Home Affairs Select Committee announced its inquiry, the House of Commons voted to refer allegations of hacking against politicians to the Standards and Privileges Committee, with the power to compel witnesses to give evidence. Parliamentary inquiry into phone-hacking scandal to begin The Spy Report Media Spy 10 September 2010 http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/09/10/uk-parliamentary-inquiry-into-phone-hacking-scandal-to-begin/ 10 September 2010Commons declares war on 'media barons and their red-topped assassins' The Independent 10 September 2010 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/commons-declares-war-on-media-barons-and-their-redtopped-assassins-2075474.html 10 September 2010 London Andy McSmith 13 September 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100913010207/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/commons-declares-war-on-media-barons-and-their-redtopped-assassins-2075474.html dead News International investigations News Corporation internal re-investigation News International started an investigation of the evidence within the companies files, headed by group general manager Will Lewis. Lewis quickly came across an email which referred to "the file" at the solicitors, and in December 2010, subsequently obtained all records held by Harbottle & Lewis regarding Clive Goodman's 2007 claim for unfair dismissal. Shocked at the content within the more than 200 emails, Lewis passed the file to another law firm, Hickman Rose. In January 2011, this firm engaged Ken Macdonald, Lord Macdonald QC, the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, to provide a report to the board of News Corporation on the contents of the emails. Macdonald's report stated that he found evidence of indirect hacking, breaches of national security and serious crime; he closed on advising them to immediately call the police. After a board meeting in New York chaired by Rupert Murdoch in January 2011, when Macdonald's report and recommendations were accepted in full,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14099102 News International found 'smoking gun' e-mails in 2007 Robert Peston BBC News 10 July 2011 17 July 2011 Macdonald immediately passed 11 emails in evidence formally to Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick. Subsequently, the News of the World disclosed that it had suspended Ian Edmondson, saying that it would take "appropriate action" if the litigation or the paper's own internal investigation found evidence of wrongdoing by any staff. News of the World suspends executive after phone-hacking claims The Spy Report Media Spy 6 January 2011 http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/01/06/uk-news-of-the-world-suspends-executive-after-phone-hacking-claims/ 12 January 2011 News International announced that they had sacked Ian Edmondson on 26 January 2011, the same day that the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Weeting. News International's new hacking evidence Robert Peston BBC News 26 January 2011 https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2011/01/news_internationals_new_hackin.html 28 January 2011 Hugh Grant In April 2011 actor Hugh Grant published an article in the New Statesman entitled "The Bugger, Bugged"The bugger, bugged Hugh Grant New Statesman 12 April 2011 http://www.newstatesman.com/newspapers/2011/04/phone-yeah-cameron-murdoch about a conversation following a chance encounter with Paul McMullan, former journalist and paparazzo for News of the World. In unguarded comments which were secretly taped by Grant, McMullan alleged that editors at the Daily Mail and News of the World, particularly Andy Coulson, had ordered journalists to engage in illegal phone tapping and had done so with the full knowledge of senior British politicians. McMullan also said that every British Prime Minister from Margaret Thatcher onwards had cultivated a close relationship with Rupert Murdoch and his senior executives. He stressed the friendship between David Cameron and Rebekah Brooks (née Wade), agreeing when asked that both of them must have been aware of illegal phone tapping, and asserting that Cameron's inaction could be explained by self-interest: "Cameron is very much in debt to Rebekah Wade for helping him not quite win the election... So that was my submission to parliament – that Cameron's either a liar or an idiot." When asked by Grant whether Cameron had encouraged the Metropolitan Police to "drag their feet" on investigating illegal phone tapping by Murdoch's journalists, McMullan agreed that this had happened, but also stated that the police themselves had taken bribes from tabloid journalists, so had a motive to comply: "20 per cent of the Met has taken backhanders from tabloid hacks. So why would they want to open up that can of worms?... And what's wrong with that, anyway? It doesn't hurt anyone particularly." Grant's article attracted considerable interest, due to both the revelatory content of the taped conversation, and the novelty of Grant himself "turning the tables" on a tabloid journalist.From Stephen Fry to Hugh Grant: The rise of the celebrity activist The Guardian 16 April 2011 https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/apr/16/celebrity-activists-hugh-grant Whilst the allegations regarding the News of the World continued to receive coverage in the broadsheets and similar media (Grant appeared for example on BBC Radio 4) it was only with the revelation that the voicemail of the then missing and subsequently murdered Millie Dowler had been hacked, and evidence in her murder enquiry had been deleted, that the coverage turned from media interest to widespread public (and eventually political) outrage. Grant became something of a spokesman against Murdoch's News Corporation, culminating in an appearance on the BBC's Question Time in July 2011.Hugh Grant's best role yet – scourge of News International The Guardian 2011-07-08 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jul/08/hugh-grant-news-international-rupert-murdoch Further investigations News International phone hacking scandal#Further UK investigations News International phone hacking scandal#International investigations Further investigations (beyond News of the World and/or beyond phone hacking) developed in 2011. Some of these also revealed further details of the phone hacking and of News International's handling of the phone hacking. See also Journalism Overview of news media phone hacking scandals News media phone hacking scandal reference lists CTB v News Group Newspapers Ltd List of victims of the News International phone hacking scandal Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd Politico-media complex Sheridan v News Group Newspapers Ltd'' References 30em Category:News International phone hacking scandal Category:News of the World