British journalist and documentary film-maker. In 2009, Atkins wrote and directed a film, Starsuckers, about press treatment of celebrities and the selling of false information to press outlets. Gave evidence to the Inquiry of the off-the-record accounts he had been given about the working practices of tabloid journalists.
Born 1957. Journalist and author and former press secretary to Tony Blair as Leader of the Opposition (1994-97) and as Prime minister (1997-2000). From 2000-2003, he was director of communications for the Labour Party (2000-03). Before 1994, he had been political editor of Today newspaper and the Daily Mirror. Campbell gave detailed testimony on the political media and what he saw as the decline of genuine investigative journalism and the increasing tendency of owners, editors and senior journalists to wish to be political players. Embellishment and pure invention were tolerated and encouraged by some editors and owners, he said.
A journalist and broadcaster, Diamond was, at the time of the Inquiry, a regular columnist at the Daily Mail and co-host of Good Morning Britain. Diamond gave evidence of invasive scrutiny by the press of her private life, including stories which were the subject of libel actions against national newspapers – in particular, The Sun. Diamond gave evidence of being hounded by paparazzi and invasive reporting of private grief when she suffered the bereavement of a child.
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.
Detective Chief Inspector with the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Upon promotion to DCI, Jones was posted to the constabulary's Major Crime Investigation Team taking the lead on all homicide cases within Avon and Somerset force area, which later spread to include Wiltshire. Jones was an investigating office in this constabulary at the time of the murder of Joanna Yeates in Clifton, Bristol. He told he Inquiry how the police operated with the press at this time and their alarm when the Daily Mail and Sun published information possibly harming the police investigation.
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.
Former Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police. Gave evidence to Leveson on the reporting of the murder of Jo Yeates, and on the subsequent complaints about the conduct of the police investigation.
Born 1959. Canadian musician, photographer, philanthropist and activist. Adams was awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia for contributions to popular music and philanthropic work via his foundation, which helps improve education for people around the world. He was a victim of a stalking episode in 2008 and stated in his evidence to the Inquiry that he suspected a link between evidence he gave the police and information subsequently printed in the press.
Founded 2009. Non-profit British civil liberties and privacy campaigning organisation. Set up to campaign against state surveillance and threats to civil liberties, it campaigns on issues including: the rise of the surveillance state, police use of technology, freedom and privacy online, use of intrusive communications interception powers including the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and wider data-protection issues. Gave evidence to Inquiry that it believed Data Protection Act was weak and that Information Commissioners Office had no “real enforcement powers”. Claimed its research in 2012 highlighted more than 900 police officers and police staff misusing personal data.
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.
Mother of Ruby Thomas, who was convicted of the manslaughter of 62-year-old Ian Baynham in London's Trafalgar Square. Lovely's evidence to the Inquiry concerned the media's misrepresentation of that incident and of her daughter's involvement, along with what Lovely saw as harassment in the reporting of the case.
English actor, comedian and businessman at the time of the Inquiry. Morrissey gave evidence of being misreported in the media, telling the Inquiry that the Daily Mail in particular had refused to delay publication when told a story was false. Also reported intense press harassment when news of his affair with TV presenter Amanda Holden was exposed.
Paparazzi photo agency founded by Darryn Lyons in 2002. Gave evidence in 2012 and later that year went into administration. Lyons told Inquiry that Big Pictures had “no code of practice document or manual” but relied on the integrity and scrutiny of its staff to obtain and shoot pictures appropriately. Denied “upskirting” Charlotte Church or having photographers follow Kate McCann.
