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Missing Milly Dowler's voicemail "hacked by News of the World"

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hiraethified
A new low for the vile rag, and surely one that should see serious criminal charges following in its wake.
The News of the World illegally targeted the missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler and her family in March 2002, interfering with police inquiries into her disappearance, an investigation by the Guardian has established.

Scotland Yard is investigating the episode, which is likely to put new pressure on the then editor of the paper, Rebekah Brooks, now Rupert Murdoch's chief executive in the UK; and the then deputy editor, Andy Coulson, who resigned in January as the prime minister's media adviser.

Milly's family lawyer this afternoon issued a statement in which he described the News of the World's activities as "heinous" and "despicable". Milly Dowler, then aged 13, disappeared on her way home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey on 21 March 2002.

The messages were deleted by journalists in the first few days after Milly's disappearance so as to free up space for more messages. As a result friends and relatives of Milly concluded wrongly that she might still be alive. Police feared evidence may have been destroyed.

Then, with the help of its own full-time private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, the News of the World started illegally intercepting mobile phone messages. Scotland Yard is now investigating evidence that the paper hacked directly into the voicemail of the missing girl's own phone. As her friends and parents called and left messages imploring Milly to get in touch with them, the News of the World was listening and recording their every private word.

But the journalists at the News of the World then encountered a problem. Milly's voicemail box filled up and would accept no more messages. Apparently thirsty for more information from more voicemails, the News of the World intervened – and deleted the messages that had been left in the first few days after her disappearance.

According to one source, this had a devastating effect: when her friends and family called again and discovered that her voicemail had been cleared, they concluded that this must have been done by Milly herself and, therefore, that she must still be alive. But she was not. The interference created false hope and extra agony for those who were misled by it.

The Dowler family then granted an exclusive interview to the News of the World in which they talked about their hope, quite unaware that it had been falsely kindled by the newspaper's own intervention. Sally Dowler told the paper: "If Milly walked through the door, I don't think we'd be able to speak. We'd just weep tears of joy and give her a great big hug.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/04/milly-dowler-voicemail-hacked-news-of-world
 
A new low for the vile rag, and surely one that should see serious criminal charges following in its wake.

God, I hope so. The arrogance and general hatefulness to behave like this is simply breathtaking. Just when you think News International can't stoop any lower they somehow manage to prove you wrong. Not that any newspaper – tabloid or otherwise – behaves a great deal better, of course...
 
Mucky, mucky business. I hope that someone gets dragged through the streets for this one.
 
This is being discussed on the andy coulson thread at the moment. My feeling is there are to many vested interests of powerful (rich) people that nothing serious will come of much of this. The Police tried to cover it up last time around and the politicians are staying very quiet.
 
This is being discussed on the andy coulson thread at the moment. My feeling is there are to many vested interests of powerful (rich) people that nothing serious will come of much of this. The Police tried to cover it up last time around and the politicians are staying very quiet.

This :(
 
Mucky, mucky business. I hope that someone gets dragged through the streets for this one.

There was a story in Private Eye recently that said Murdoch had planned to sack Rebekah Brooks but was then persuaded out of it. I bet her arse is out of there now though.
 
I'm a cynic at the best of times and have to say I wasn't terribly surprised when I saw the headline. But when I read that they'd deleted messages to make room for more I think I actually looked like a goldfish for a minute. I can't believe that even the coldest, most-cynical, money-grabbing tabloid journalist would not maybe think twice about that. Fucking unbelievable :mad:
 
On Twitter it's being reported that people ringing up the NOTW news desk and shouting obscenities down the line. News desk. 0207 782 1001.

It was on ansaphone when I rang.:mad:
 
I'm a cynic at the best of times and have to say I wasn't terribly surprised when I saw the headline. But when I read that they'd deleted messages to make room for more I think I actually looked like a goldfish for a minute. I can't believe that even the coldest, most-cynical, money-grabbing tabloid journalist would not maybe think twice about that. Fucking unbelievable :mad:
i find it interesting how a human being might come to this. did they think what they were doing was right? or did they just not care? do they have some kind of twisted morality/culture that keeps them doing these things, like the way soldiers who commit atrocities justify their actions to themselves?
 
i find it interesting how a human being might come to this. did they think what they were doing was right? or did they just not care? do they have some kind of twisted morality/culture that keeps them doing these things, like the way soldiers who commit atrocities justify their actions to themselves?

They didn't care.

:(
 
i find it interesting how a human being might come to this. did they think what they were doing was right? or did they just not care? do they have some kind of twisted morality/culture that keeps them doing these things, like the way soldiers who commit atrocities justify their actions to themselves?

IME, media types think a bit different to the rest of us, the most important thing is they get their story with their picture next to it. Everything else is secondary.
 
NotW.jpg


...too much?
 
i find it interesting how a human being might come to this. did they think what they were doing was right? or did they just not care? do they have some kind of twisted morality/culture that keeps them doing these things, like the way soldiers who commit atrocities justify their actions to themselves?

I don't think they cared, as long as they got their story. Disgusting behavoir :(
 
this will have repercussions. how serious remains to be seen, but it isn't really something that can be hushed up or swept under the carpet is it?

brooks will be out in the next few days, i reckon. and there has to be criminal charges from this.
 
Illustrates a culture where absolutely nothing is regarded out of bounds in the pursuit of news dirt.

Just. Scum.
 
This is being discussed on the andy coulson thread at the moment. My feeling is there are to many vested interests of powerful (rich) people that nothing serious will come of much of this. The Police tried to cover it up last time around and the politicians are staying very quiet.

That is my instinct too. Anyone who thinks the elite aint above the law might care to subscribe to my new publication "Bridge Buyers Monthly"
 
People will still by the NoTW despite the scandal - how else will they get the juicy gossip on the latest rapes and murders?
 
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