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Monday, 18 July 2011

Phone-hacking: The main players

More than 4,000 people have been identified as potential victims of phone hacking at the News of the World. Claims have also been made that the Sunday Times used "blagging" techniques to access personal information relating to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Hacking scandal: Key figures

Name Job/position Connection to phone-hacking investigation
Rupert Murdoch Rupert Murdoch
Chief exec, News Corporation
The NoW was part of Rupert Murdoch's News International newspaper group - itself the UK arm of the media mogul's News Corporation global empire. The 80-year-old Australian-American boss flew into the UK to take charge of dealing with the phone-hacking crisis. He will appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on 19 July.


Rebekah Brooks Rebekah Brooks (nee Wade)
Former chief exec, News International
News International's former chief executive and former NoW editor. Mrs Brooks was the NoW editor when voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's mobile phone were allegedly intercepted. She will appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on 19 July. Mrs Brooks was arrested on 17 July 2011 over phone hacking and corruption allegations.


James Murdoch James Murdoch
Chairman, News International
Rupert Murdoch's son James is News International's current chairman. He has reiterated the company is fully co-operating with police investigations and he was not, until recently, in the picture about the full extent of wrongdoing at the NoW. Announcing the closure of the Sunday tabloid, he said the allegations were "shocking and hugely regrettable". He will appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on 19 July.


Les Hinton Les Hinton
Former chief exec, Dow Jones
Les Hinton was chief executive of News Corp's financial news service Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal. One of Rupert Murdoch's top executives, Mr Hinton had worked with him for more than five decades. Announcing he was quitting, he said he was "ignorant of what apparently happened" but felt it was proper to resign. Mr Murdoch said it brought him "great sadness".


Andy Coulson Andy Coulson
NoW editor 2003-07
Andy Coulson, who was NoW editor between 2003-07, resigned his position following the convictions of ex-NoW royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking. He later became Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman but quit in January 2011 saying ongoing hacking claims were distracting him from his job. Mr Coulson was arrested in July 2011 and later bailed over phone hacking and corruption allegations.


Glenn Mulcaire Glenn Mulcaire
Private investigator
Employed by the NoW, Glenn Mulcaire, 40, was jailed in January 2007 for phone hacking. He admitted unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages received by three royal aides. He was also convicted of hacking the phones of a number of other public figures, including publicist Max Clifford and actress Elle Macpherson. In July 2011, allegations emerged he had also hacked into murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's mobile phone and had the phone numbers of relatives of service personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Clive Goodman Clive Goodman
Ex-NoW royal editor
The former NoW royal editor was jailed for four months in 2007 for phone hacking. He admitted unlawfully intercepting hundreds of telephone voicemail messages received by three members of staff at Buckingham Palace. The investigation was sparked after Prince William became suspicious about a November 2005 NoW story about a knee injury. In July 2011, Goodman, 53, was again arrested and released on bail on suspicion of corruption.


Other journalists

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Ian Edmondson Ian Edmondson
Ex-NoW assistant editor (news)
The former NoW assistant editor was identified in court documents as having instructed private investigator Glenn Mulcaire to access phone messages. He was sacked from the paper after an internal inquiry had found "highly damaging evidence", a source said. He was arrested in April 2011 on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages, and was released on bail until September 2011.


Neville Thurlbeck Neville Thurlbeck
Ex-NoW chief reporter
Neville Thurlbeck, former chief reporter at the NoW, was named by Labour MP Tom Watson in January 2011 as one of three journalists who should be investigated. In 2009, police told MPs he had not been interviewed because there was no evidence linking him to the case. He was arrested in April 2011 on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages, and released on bail until September 2011.


James Weatherup. Copyright: Press Gazette James Weatherup
Ex-NoW reporter
The former NoW reporter and news editor was arrested on 14 April on suspicion of conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications. He was released on bail until September 2011.


Neil Wallis Neil Wallis
Ex-NoW executive editor
Mr Wallis was arrested by police on 14 July on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications. His media consultancy company - Chamy Media - was used by the Met Police from October 2009 until September 2010.


Sean Hoare Sean Hoare
Ex-NoW reporter
The former NoW journalist has publicly admitted his part in phone hacking told the New York Times the practice of phone hacking was far more extensive than the newspaper acknowledged when police first investigated the case. He also told the BBC's Panorama it was "endemic" at the paper. Mr Hoare also said, as editor, Andy Coulson had asked him to hack phones. Mr Coulson has denied any knowledge of hacking.


Paul McMullan Paul McMullan
Ex-NoW deputy features editor
The NoW deputy features editor between 1994 and 2001, Mr McMullan has spoken about the use of phone hacking on the paper, describing its investigations department as a "den of vipers".


Alex Marunchak Alex Marunchak
Ex-NoW Irish edition editor
The former NoW Irish edition editor obtained e-mails hacked into by a private detective in 2006, according to the BBC's Panorama. The messages belonged to an ex-British intelligence officer. Mr Marunchak denies receiving "any unlawfully obtained material".


Silhouette graphic Laura Elston
Press Association news agency royal reporter
The 34-year-old royal reporter for the Press Association (PA) news agency was arrested in June as part of police investigations into hacking. She was arrested at a central London police station on suspicion of intercepting communications and later released on bail until early October. She has received the "full support" of her editors. PA editor Jonathan Grun said she was "a journalist of integrity".


Victims and potential victims: Ordinary people

Name

Job/status

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Milly Dowler Milly Dowler
Murder victim
Milly Dowler, killed in 2002, was an alleged target of phone hacking. A lawyer for the Dowler family said the alleged hacking dated from a time when the NoW was under the editorship of Rebekah Brooks. The Dowlers have since called on Mrs Brooks to resign. Speaking through their solicitor, they said they thought she should "take responsibility and do the honourable thing".


Clarence Mitchell Clarence Mitchell
Spokesman for missing Madeleine McCann's family
Clarence Mitchell, the spokesman for missing Madeline McCann's parents, has said he believes two attempts were made to gain information about his phone. He is among a number of suspected hacking victims contacted by police.


Colin Stagg Colin Stagg
Wrongly accused of murder
The lawyer acting for Colin Stagg, who won more than £700,000 in compensation after being wrongfully arrested over the Rachel Nickell murder, confirmed police had contacted him as part of the hacking investigation. Alex Tribick told the BBC police had told Mr Stagg his name had appeared in documentation associated with the police investigation.


Graham Foulkes Graham Foulkes
7/7 victim's father
Mr Foulkes is among the relatives of the 7 July 2005 London bombing victims warned by police their phones may have been hacked. Mr Foulkes, whose son David died in the Edgware Road blast, told the BBC his details had been found on a list.


Sean Cassidy Sean Cassidy
7/7 victim's father
Mr Cassidy, who lost his 22-year-old son, Ciaran, in the Russell Square bomb on 7 July 2005 , has also been contacted by police after his details were found on a list.


Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman Parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman
Family of Soham murder victims
The parents of murdered Soham girls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman are among those contacted by police investigating phone hacking. It is believed the families were warned there was evidence to suggest they were targeted by Glenn Mulcaire.


British troops in Afghanistan Families of service personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq
N/A
Glenn Mulcaire is also alleged to have had the phone numbers of bereaved military families in his files.


Silhouette graphic Brendan Montague
Freelance journalist
The freelance journalist, along with former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, Labour MP Chris Bryant and ex-Scotland Yard commander Brian Paddick, won a High Court bid for a judicial review into the original police inquiry into hacking. All believe their phones were hacked by the NoW and the police handling of their cases breached their human rights.


Victims and potential victims: Celebrities and staff

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Sienna Miller Sienna Miller
Actress
The actress formally settled for £100,000 damages and costs, after the paper admitted liability over the hacking of several of her phones. News Group formally apologised at London's High Court for what it called the "harassment and distress" it had caused.


Paul Gascoigne Paul Gascoigne
Ex-footballer
The former England player is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year. The civil damages claims against News Group Newspapers will be assessed in January 2012. The other test cases concern actor interior designer Kelly Hoppen, sports agent Sky Andrew, actor Jude Law and MP Chris Bryant.


Jude Law Jude Law
Actor
The actor is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.


Elle Macpherson Elle Macpherson
Model
The supermodel was one of the celebrities named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. The court head when she suspected messages were being listened to, she had been so afraid she had had her home swept for bugs.


Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs
Footballer
The Manchester United player has launched legal proceedings against the NoW and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. He is suing the paper's publisher News Group Newspapers for breach of privacy.


Steve Coogan Steve Coogan
Actor and comedian
The Alan Partridge comedian is among those to take legal action against the NoW for breach of privacy after the Metropolitan Police confirmed his personal details had been in the possession of Glenn Mulcaire following a raid on his house. He told BBC2's Newsnight the closure of the paper was a "victory for decency and humanity".


Chris Tarrant Chris Tarrant
TV presenter
Chris Tarrant in one of a number of celebrities who have taken legal action against the NoW over phone hacking. The Metropolitan Police confirmed last year his personal details had been in the possession of Glenn Mulcaire.


Andy Gray Andy Gray
Television presenter
The football pundit accepted £20,000 in damages from the NoW in June this year after his phone was hacked. The former Everton striker reached an agreement with News Group Newspapers for compensation, plus undisclosed costs, for voicemail interceptions.


Leslie Ash and Lee Chapman Leslie Ash and Lee Chapman
Actress/ex-footballer
The actress and her husband launched legal action over claims Ms Ash's phone had been hacked. Police confirmed her details had been among paperwork belonging to Glenn Mulcaire.


Max Clifford Max Clifford
Publicist
The celebrity publicist was named in the original indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. He later sued the NoW for breach of privacy and received a settlement worth a reported £1m. Most recently, he has defended News International chief Rebekah Brooks, saying he does not believe she was involved.


Silhouette graphic Nicola Phillips
Assistant to Max Clifford
The publicist issued proceedings against the NoW for breach of privacy. She rejected an early offer from the paper.


Sky Andrew Sky Andrew
Sports agent
The sports agent's is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.


Kelly Hoppen Kelly Hoppen
Interior designer
Kelly Hoppen's - actress Sienna Miller's stepmother - is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.


Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Footballer
The England and Manchester United player was contacted in April by police investigating hacking. Mr Rooney wrote on Twitter: "Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents. Looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone."


Hugh Grant Hugh Grant
Actor
The actor, who has been told by police his details are among those found by officers investigating hacking at the NoW, recorded a conversation between himself and Paul McMullan, the tabloid's former features editor. During the exchange - revealed by Mr Grant in the New Statesman magazine - Mr McMullan discussed hacking by the media.


Victims and potential victims: Public figures and staff

Names

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
Members of the Royal Family
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall may have also been targets of phone hacking conducted at the NoW, according to the Guardian newspaper. It has also been alleged police officers in the Royal Protection Squad were being paid by the NoW for private information
about the Royal Family.


John Prescott Lord Prescott
Ex-deputy prime minister
The former deputy prime minister is one of four high-profile figures seeking judicial review over the Met Police's handling of the original hacking inquiry. Lord Prescott, Labour MP Chris Bryant, ex-Scotland Yard boss Brian Paddick and journalist Brendan Montague all claim their human rights were breached because officers failed to carry out an effective investigation.


Bryan Paddick Brian Paddick
Ex-Met Police deputy assistant commissioner
The Scotland Yard boss is one of four high-profile figures seeking judicial review over the Met Police's handling of the original hacking inquiry.


Chris Bryant Chris Bryant
Ex-Labour minister
The ex-Labour minister is one of four high-profile figures seeking judicial review over the Met Police's handling of the original hacking inquiry. Mr Bryant's is also one of four selected test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.


Gordon Taylor Gordon Taylor
Professional Football Association's chief exec
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive brought a private case against the NoW in 2008, and received settlement worth a reported £700,000.


Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon
Jockey
The sportsman launched legal action against the NoW after police confirmed his personal details had been in the possession of Glenn Mulcaire.


George Galloway George Galloway
Former MP
The former Respect MP for Bethnal Green in London has launched legal proceedings against the NoW for breach of privacy, claiming his voicemail was illegally intercepted between Feb 2005 and Aug 2006. In January he told the BBC he had been offered "substantial sums of money" by the paper. The NoW refused to comment.


Tessa Jowell Tessa Jowell
Former culture secretary
The former Labour minister has said she believes her phone was hacked 28 times. The BBC understands she is one of the main claimants offered a settlement by News International.


David Mills David Mills
Lawyer and estranged husband of Tessa Jowell
The lawyer is one of the main claimants who has been offered a settlement by News International.


Simon Hughes Simon Hughes
Lib Dem deputy leader
The Lib Dem deputy leader was named as a hacking victim in the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire.


Michael Mansfield Michael Mansfield
Barrister
The QC, who represented Mohamed Al Fayed at the Princess Diana inquest, has been told by police his phone may have been hacked.


Silhouette graphic Helen Asprey
Royal aide
The former aide to the Prince of Wales was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. The court heard how she, along with Prince Charles's communication secretary Paddy Harverson and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, realised something was wrong in December 2005 when their new messages were being shown as old.


Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
Royal secretary
The private secretary to Princes William and Harry was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire.


Silhouette graphic Paddy Harverson
Royal communications secretary
The Prince of Wales's communication secretary Paddy Harverson was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire.


Silhouette graphic Joan Hammell
Former aide to Lord Prescott
The BBC understands the former aide to ex-Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott is one of the main claimants offered a settlement by News International.


Silhouette graphic Jo Armstrong
Professional Football Association legal adviser
The legal adviser made an out-of-court settlement with News International for breach of privacy.


Alleged 'blagging' victims

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Gordon Brown Gordon Brown
Former prime minister
Mr Brown has accused The Sunday Times of gaining access to his personal bank and legal files when he was chancellor using so-called "blagging" techniques. News International is investigating. Mr Brown also said he did not know how the Sun newspaper obtained access to medical records relating to his son Fraser's cystic fibrosis in 2006. The Sun maintains the information was not obtained by illegal means.


Police officers involved in hacking inquiry

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Asst Commissioner John Yates John Yates
Met Police Assistant Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner Yates ruled out a further inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal in 2009. He has since expressed "extreme regret" for not reopening the investigation. Two MPs have called for him to resign.


Sue Akers Sue Akers
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner
The current police hacking investigation, called Operation Weeting, is being led by Sue Akers.
Under her lead, detectives are contacting nearly 4,000 people whose personal details were stored by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.


Andy Hayman Andy Hayman
Former Met Police Assistant Commissioner
Andy Hayman was involved in the original hacking inquiry. MPs have criticised his handling of the investigation. He denies there has been anything "improper" about his decision to write columns for News International after he retired from the Met.

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