Born 1986. A child star as a classical singer, in her teens Church experienced intense press scrutiny. She was a victim of phone hacking by the News of the World, as were numerous relatives and associates, and was party to civil actions against the paper. Her evidence to the Inquiry detailed examples of harassment and intrusion by journalists and photographers.
The ex-wife of former England footballer Paul Gascoigne was designated a Core Participant Victim by the Inquiry. During and after her marriage, Ms Gascoigne and her children were the subjects of intense media scrutiny, she said. She had pursued libel cases against several national newspapers and been awarded damages. She gave evidence of "massive intrusion" into her family's private life and examples of six totally untrue stories printed about her in the Mirror, the Daily Star, the News of the World and the People. She received apologies, statements or costs and damages from all of them, she said, telling the Inquiry that after she had taken action the press treated her with more respect.
London-based lawyer specialising in media law, in particular defamation, privacy and harassment. Joined board of lobby group “Hacked Off” and has represented a substantial number of phone-hacked claimants since 2007. She also gave evidence to the Inquiry as a victim of phone-hacking herself.
A retired schoolteacher, Jefferies was landlord to Joanna Yeates, who was murdered in Bristol in December 2010. Jefferies was the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for which he sued and received damages.
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.
Charity campaigner, television personality and public speaker, Mills gave evidence that she had begun receiving negative scrutiny by the press after her relationship with and subsequent marriage to Paul McCartney. Mills was the subject of multiple false stories in national newspapers, particularly referring to her disability, for some of which libels she received damages.
Thomson represented Hugh Grant and his partner Tinglan Hong in the phone-hacking and harassment cases against the News of the World. Thomson represented numerous other victims of the phone-hacking scandal who were subsequently awarded damages for media intrusion and invasion of privacy. Told the Inquiry that it was his strong view that the PCC had failed to enforce improved press standards and, significantly, had no power of "prior restraint".
Lawyer, partner and Head of Media and Information Law at Bindmans LLP. Represented around 70 Core Participants in the Leveson Inquiry, including Hugh Grant, Jude Law, Charlotte Church and Gerry and Kate McCann. Specialises in defamation and privacy law, information and data protection law, copyright and human rights law.
Barrister and lecturer, married to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and patron of The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. In 2013, Blair was awarded damages for her claims against News of the World in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails. Had raised a number of complaints over the years with publications such as the Daily Mail about inaccurate and invasive reporting, evidence of which was presented to the Inquiry.
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.
Independent Bed and Breakfast owner, whose business was destroyed by defamatory articles printed about him, his wife and their business, by an undercover reporter in 1998.
Bed & Breakfast owner, who claimed an undercover reporter had destroyed her business with defamatory articles about her, her husband and their business in 1998. The two described themselves as "fair-weather naturists" but in a written statement claimed that the News of the World had visited and published exaggerated and false articles about the nature of their hospitality.
Group Finance Director of Northern & Shell, owners of the Express newspapers. Told the Inquiry the group operated a stringent approval process whereby any payment above £5,000 had to be approved by a main board director. Cash payments by journalists would have to go through the expenses system. He was not aware of any payments being made to private investigators, he said.
Wife of Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive of the Professional Footballer’s Association. Involvement in the Inquiry stemmed from denouncing a lawyer’s claims that she was unaware of information relating to her husband’s settlement, when in fact she was.
Founded 1978. British daily tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday with a circulation of more than 400,000 readers. Regular features include topless models and “Star Babes”, gossip articles and TV news column “Hot TV”. The newspaper paid damages and issued front-page apologies to the McCann family for libellous coverage of their daughter’s disappearance.
Founded 2002. British weekly tabloid newspaper launched as a sister title to the Daily Star. Stuart James took over the editorship in February 2014 from the paper's previous editor, Peter Carbery. The newspaper, along with the Daily Star, paid damages and issued front-page apologies to the McCann family for defamatory coverage of their daughter’s disappearance.
Weekly UK-based celebrity and pop music newsletter and associated website dating from early 2000s. Much of the material for the newsletter comes from the Popbitch message boards frequented by music industry insiders, gossips and the casually interested. Owned and run by journalists Neil Stevenson and Camilla Wright, the publication was sued by the actor Max Beesley in March 2008 over an allegation about his personal life.
