Writer and editor of UK edition of the worldwide celebrity gossip magazine, OK!. Gave evidence along with Hello! and Heat editors. She told the Inquiry that OK! was a celebrity-friendly magazine and that it was therefore in its own interests to treat celebrities with respect.
Director of Communications at the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) at the time of the Inquiry, having previously worked as a sub-editor for Hello! magazine and as deputy editor on a magazine called Food Manufacture. Gave details of how the ACPO press office communicated and passed on information to the press.
Editor in Chief of Heat magazine and the Heat brand, spanning Heat radio, heatworld.com and Heat TV. Outlined procedures at the magazine for ensuring that high ethical standards were maintained.
Former journalist and founder of PR company Max Clifford Associates, which dealt with protecting the public image of famous stars and events. He had been the victim of phone-hacking by the News of the World along with several of his clients. In 2014, Clifford was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault on four girls and women aged between 15 and 19. He died on 10 December 2017.
Born 1972. Former Premiership footballer for Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United and later Manager for lower division clubs. Flitcroft gave evidence at the Inquiry concerning press intrusion he received when injunctions were lifted allowing coverage of his extra-marital affairs.
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.
Born 1965. Australian media personality, entrepreneur and politician who rose to prominence in Australia and UK as a paparazzo. Lyons owned celebrity photo agency Big Pictures, which often faced legal action relating to invasion of privacy and harassment from celebrities including Sienna Miller, Lily Allen, JK Rowling, Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley. The company went in to liquidation in 2012 and Lyons returned to Australia, where he became Mayor of Geelong from 2013 to 2016.
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.
English journalist and Senior Vice President of Splash News and Picture Agency. Morgan's evidence submitted to the Inquiry detailed the hierarchy, setup and quality assurance measures in place at the agency.
British journalist and television personality. Morgan began his journalism career in Fleet Street as a writer and editor for several tabloid papers, including The Sun, the News of the World and the Daily Mirror. In 1994, he was appointed editor of the News of the World by Rupert Murdoch. He later edited the Daily Mirror, and was in charge during the period that the paper was implicated in the phone-hacking scandal. He told the Inquiry that he took ethics very seriously and was then questioned on the ethics of paying for and publishing details of the discarded bank statements of Elton John.
Australian-born American Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation with an estimated net worth of $15.2 billion at the time of giving evidence. Gave a brief history of his organisation from the founding of the Adelaide News to date. Among other matters, was asked about the admission in the diaries of Woodrow Wyatt, a confidant of both Murdoch and Margaret Thatcher, that he "bent... all the rules" to enable acquisition of The Times and Sunday Times without the bid being referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Murdoch outlined his different understanding of the process. In lengthy evidence over several days, Murdoch admitted that the phone-hacking affair had left a serious blot on his reputation.
A solicitor with wide experience in defamation, privacy and media law, Shear gave evidence as a "core participant", telling the Inquiry that in dealing with the press, particularly the tabloid press, he had seen numerous examples of misconduct in pursuit of stories concerning the private lives of well-known individuals. He gave his opinion that understaffed newsrooms were under pressure to find and feature sensational stories and that tabloid journalists had become more aggressive in their methods. He also gave evidence that he had himself been the subject of surveillance.
Born 1980. Scottish broadcaster, former editor of The Scottish Sun. Smart became Deputy Editor of The Sun before leaving in 2016 to follow a career in radio broadcasting. Gave evidence concerning two fake stories planted as a hoax on The Sun which he had published.
Editor of the Daily Mirror at the time of giving evidence and until 2012. Described the ethos of the paper and its 110-year history. Told the Inquiry of its post-war support for Labour and of the various campaigns it had supported. Said that he took personal responsibility for the ethics of the paper and that every effort was made to correct errors.
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.
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.
At the time of the Inquiry, Greener had been the Daily Star's Picture Editor for 9 years, having been at the paper for more than 20. Told the Inquiry that he tried to ensure that all pictures used were taken ethically and honestly. Was asked specifically about pictures of Hugh Grant's baby and said he was content that the pictures had been taken in a public place and not in a context that could be deemed private. Star photographers abided by a strict moral and ethical code, he said.
Features Editor for The Sun at the time of giving evidence. Joined the paper's "Bizarre" desk in 2003 as a showbiz reporter. Following a short break at The Mirror, Hamilton returned to The Sun in 2009 as Deputy Showbiz Editor, before joining the Features department in 2010. Was asked about ethical practices and said that these had been recently strengthened but that he had occasionally felt under pressure to "generate content". There was a grey area between the public interest and protection of privacy, he said, citing examples of hard decisions he had been asked to make.
Submitted evidence to the Inquiry on the Daily Mail’s reporting of celebrities’ pregnancies and inconsistencies in that paper’s policies and practice.
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.
