Worked as a legal advisor to News International in his role as a partner at Harbottle & Lewis. Was questioned on his involvement in, or knowledge of, the surveillance of two prominent lawyers, Mark Lewis and Charlotte Harris. Later fined £20,000 after a tribunal found that he failed to read an email containing evidence of widespread phone hacking at the News of the World. He said he was asleep when it was sent.
Journalist and former newspaper editor. CEO of News International from 2009 to 2011, having previously been the youngest editor of a British national newspaper (at the News of the World from 2000 to 2003) and the first female editor of The Sun (from 2003 to 2009). Brooks was a prominent figure in the News International phone-hacking scandal, having been editor of the News of the World when illegal phone-hacking was carried out. Following a criminal trial in 2014, she was cleared of all charges by a jury at the Old Bailey, which accepted her defence that she had no knowledge of the illegal acts carried out at the newspaper she edited.
Solicitor and Director of Legal Affairs at News International until 2011. He had given advice on the dismissal and employment-tribunal case of Clive Goodman, former royal editor of the News of the World, who had been convicted of criminally hacking phones.
Actor, comedian, victim of phone hacking by the News of the World and a leading figure in legal actions against the newspaper. He told the Leveson Inquiry that "lurid" details of his private life appeared in the News of the World after he was set up by that paper's former editor. Coogan gave extensive evidence of intrusive stalking and photographing by the Daily Mirror and Sunday Times. He said he had witnessed journalists rummaging through his rubbish bins. He had also been the victim of several kiss-and-tell stories and detailed how the women in question had been fooled and sometimes bribed into giving stories. At the heart of the problem, he thought, was the lack of accountability on the part of the editors and owners.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards between 1999 and 2002, Filkin later led an inquiry published in 2012 relating to the News International phone-hacking scandal to "recommend changes to links between the police and the media, including how to extend transparency". She answered questions on her work at the Leveson Inquiry. She was appointed CBE in the 2014 Birthday Honours.
Conservative MP for Surrey Heath and Education Secretary at the time of the Inquiry. A former journalist at the Aberdeen Press and Journal, the Times, the BBC and the Spectator. Told the Inquiry that sometimes "individuals reach for regulation in order to deal with failures of character or morality, and sometimes that regulation is right and appropriate but some of us believe that before the case for regulation is made, the case for liberty needs to be asserted as well".
Brother of Sean Hoare, a former reporter on the News of the World who played a central role in exposing the News International phone-hacking scandal. According to an inquest into his death in 2011, Sean died of liver disease and alcoholism, exacerbated by media interest in the phone-hacking scandal. Stuart spoke on behalf of his brother, who had decided to blow the whistle on phone-hacking at News International. At that time, he said, Sean had been sober for a year.
A consultant cardiologist from Leicestershire whose daughter Madeleine, aged three, disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in May 2007. Dr McCann, his wife Kate and their holiday companions were the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for some of which they sued and received damages.
A Leicestershire doctor whose daughter Madeleine, aged three, disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in May 2007. Dr McCann, her husband Gerry and their holiday companions were the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for some of which they sued and received damages.
The actress, model and fashion designer was designated a Core Participant Victim by the Inquiry. During the period 2005 to 2006, Miller found herself the victim of intrusive media scrutiny, particularly from the News of the World. She told the Inquiry that information published about her private life had been so precise and accurate that she had accused friends and family of talking to the press about her. Soon after, she learnt from the police that her telephone had been hacked.
British journalist, broadcaster and, at the time of giving evidence, editor of The Sun newspaper. Mohan was instrumental in the Live 8 charity concert, having conceived the idea of re-recording Band Aid’s "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 2004. Mohan told the Inquiry that The Sun took the PCC code very seriously and that the News International staff handbook was a comprehensive guide to the behaviour expected of Sun journalists.
British journalist who worked for the News of the World for 21 years before being dismissed in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal in 2011. Thurlbeck was arrested as part of Operation Weeting and was subsequently sacked by News International. He later sued for unfair dismissal and settled the case in court. His memoir, Tabloid Secrets: The Stories Behind the Headlines at the World's Most Famous Newspaper, was published in May 2015.
Retired detective, worked for 30 years with the Hertfordshire Constabulary specifically conducting surveillance on major criminals. Webb told the Inquiry that from 2003 to 2011 when the News of the World suspended business, he undertook surveillance for that paper as a private Investigator, with a break of 15 months when he was awaiting trial on charges relating to aiding and abetting Misconduct in Public Office. That case was dismissed and Webb continued to work with the News of the World until it closed. Webb listed eight journalists who had sought his help.
Had been editor of the Sunday Times for some 15 years at the time of giving evidence. Described a regime of self-policing. Gave specific details of sensitive stories such as reports of peers abusing expenses and the "cash for honours" scandal of 2006. Witherow confirmed the paper had "blagged" information from a bank as part of an investigation in 2000 into the purchase of a flat by then-chancellor Gordon Brown. He argued that such activities would be legal since clearly in the public interest. The Sunday Times sometimes used subterfuge for stories in the public interest, he said.
New Zealand journalist and broadcaster, best known as a showbiz reporter for the News of the World, Daily Mail and Sun newspapers and as a contributor to ITV Breakfast shows. Wooton was twice named “Showbiz Reporter of the Year” at the British Press Awards. He told the Inquiry that the actions of some News of the World reporters had tarnished the reputation of those who reported from valid sources.
Labour MP for Rhondda. Member of the Commons Media Select Committee, where he raised concerns about News International journalists making payments to police officers. Bryant told the Inquiry that, shortly after this, his phone was hacked by the News of the World and Bryant was reported by several papers to have used a gay dating site. In 2012, he received £30,000 damages from NI.
Solicitor representing News International at the Leveson Inquiry. Experienced in a broad range of commercial and financial-services litigation, having worked on a number of high profile cases including advising the administrators of the Lehman Brothers companies following the bank's collapse in September 2008.
Solicitor and Partner at Linklaters, the legal representatives of News International at the Inquiry and inhouse lawyer. Walls had been appointed a partner in 1987 as an expert in contentious commercial practice, principally fraud investigation and asset recovery, insolvency and banking. The Inquiry requested Linklaters’ assistance in identifying those involved in the sourcing, preparation, writing and editing of a News of the World story in 2008 concerning Kate McCann’s diary. The NoW had ceased publishing in July 2011 and Linklaters informed the court of the difficulties this presented.
Support group set up in 1989 in the aftermath of the Hillsborough Disaster to represent bereaved families. Chairman of the Support Group Margaret Aspinall brought the Inquiry's attention to the collusion between police and press, most prominently The Sun, which had been at the root of much of the Hillsborough families' suffering.
