Andy Coulson, the Met Police and Murdoch

[stavros]

Isn't Mummy Murdoch still alive though, at somewhere over 100? If not, I think she snuffed it fairly recently, so family history suggests we may have to live under his rule somewhat longer.

She is still about, at 102.

 

[laptop]

It would certainly be interesting to know how much in damages NI can afford before the whole business is threatened.

Anyone got an idea. Cos this is potentially billions just on what we know so far.

Bit difficult to disentangle the accounts of all the tax-haven companies

 

[stavros]

I browse my parents' copy of the Torygraph, and it was noticeable how little of the NI-Met-hacking story they've covered, perhaps because it might involve charges of hypocrasy. Today they give a reasonably-sized space to the Ryan Cleary story. Good to have things in proportion.

 

[laptop]

39-year-old woman, not a journalist, arrested in Yorkshire...

 

[Santino]

The News of the World confirm that she was not a full-time member of staff.

Glad they've cleared that up.

 

[stavros]

A lot of their stories, at least those not just copied off the wires, will be written by freelancers, won't they? Thus, they won't officially be members of NI/NOTW staff.

 

[laptop]

39-year-old woman, not a journalist, arrested in Yorkshire...

Now:

The woman, believed to be Terenia Taras, contributed more than 30 stories for the News of the World as a freelance between 1998 and 2004, although Scotland Yard would not confirm this.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said she had been bailed to return to a West Yorkshire police station in mid-October.

Taras is the ex-girlfriend of Greg Miskiw, the News of the World's former assistant editor (news), who is currently in the US.

She has also written occasionally for other tabloids including, most recently, the Sunday Mirror and, less often, for the Daily Mail. Her last bylined article appeared in the Sunday Mirror in December 2007.

This is starting to sound strangely familiar, but I can't work out why...

It's in a story about another journalist being arrested... no details of that one yet.

 

[DexterTCN]

"If your enemy is stronger than you, attack him at the corners." (kinda) Sun Tsu, The Art of War.

Jail and a destroyed reputation (of whatever ilk) is a horror for most journos I'm sure but those under the NI umbrella will be sure that they'll be looked after (to a degree) when they come out.

The freelancers not so much? But their testimony could be cumulatively damning. Or indeed their off-the-record finger pointing could be very interesting.

On the other hand it could be the start of the dilution of NI culpability, starting to drip, drip tar others more and more.

Or a bit of both.

 

[Santino]

Jail and a destroyed reputation (of whatever ilk) is a horror for most journos I'm sure but those under the NI umbrella will be sure that they'll be looked after (to a degree) when they come out.

Only to the extent that it generates a profit for the shareholders.

 

[stavros]

Yes Rupert, whatever you say Rupert.

 

[Santino]

Holy fucking Christ.

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.

...

During the last four weeks the Met officers have approached Surrey police and taken formal statements from some of those involved in the original inquiry, who were concerned about how News of the World journalists intercepted – and deleted – the voicemail messages of Milly Dowler.

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.

...Scotland Yard are now investigating evidence that they hacked direct 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 were 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 which 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.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/04/milly-dowler-voicemail-hacked-news-of-world

 

[Teaboy]

Blimey, journo's really will go to any lengths to get their story.

 

[stethoscope]

Fucking hell.

 

[OneStrike]

Fuck me, how low were they willing to go to get a story. I can only imagine how that would have messed with the families emotions at the time, it would have been a such a strong ray of light to think she was receiving and deleating her messages, awful.

 

[Streathamite]

Holy fucking Christ.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/04/milly-dowler-voicemail-hacked-news-of-world

fuck me, that is just about as low as you could ever get

 

[ymu]

Bury them.

 

[Dan U]

wonder if the rest of the media will pick this up now a tabloid favourite has been treated fucking disgracefully

scum.

 

[killer b]

The killer blow, surely? They can fuck with politicians, clebs and royalty with impunity, but murdered kids will surely raise the ire of the british public?

 

[Streathamite]

betcha no tabloid will rin with that story - shamefully

 

[magneze]

The killer blow, surely? They can fuck with politicians, clebs and royalty with impunity, but murdered kids will surely raise the ire of the british public?

+1

 

[tarannau]

You wish. It'll be shushed under the carpet again. Murdoch may make a visit over again for PR shots of 'angryface' once more, they'll vow to turn over a new leaf and Hunt will wave the takeover through and consolidate their market position regardless. Be nice to think it'll be different, but the chances of this Govt wanting to upset Murdoch will be zero. Expect a minor slap on the wrists and some token prosecutions at best, some folks hung out to dry.

 

[Gingerman]

http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk...t_to_sue_News_of_the_World_for_phone_hacking/
They were desprate to prove Stagg was the murderer,even tried to set him up it seems.

 

[ymu]

http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk...t_to_sue_News_of_the_World_for_phone_hacking/

Come on Colin. You get 'em.

 

[Streathamite]

I'm now praying for the Dowlers to either sue, or take out a private criminal prosecution, although I'd quite understand it if they just wanted the whole world to leave them alone for good.

 

[Pickman's model]

I'm now praying for the Dowlers to either sue, or take out a private criminal prosecution

or a contract

 

[Streathamite]

or a contract

I'd certainly not object to that either, provided the subject of it was senior enough in the hierarchy at Stalag Colditz
e2a: like a murdoch, brooks, or any senior editor or exec
e2aa: I meant Stalag Wapping, of course!

 

[laptop]

I'm now praying for the Dowlers to either sue,

Guardian says they are suing...

or take out a private criminal prosecution

It'd be a scandal if the CPS didn't now bring a public prosecution, including Brooks...

 

[agricola]

It'd be a scandal if the CPS didn't now bring a public prosecution, including Brooks...

I agree, but they probably will fail to do so, for the reasons already identified.

TBH I think Boris's idea about having a sort of truth and reconciliation commission approach to this is probably the best way to sort the problem out long-term, albeit of course with financial penalties for the guilty (paid out as compensation for the victims), a requirement for full disclosure, and savage punishments for attempted concealment, or for offences carried out during the process, or after the process has finished.

 

[Streathamite]

Guardian says they are suing

oh, let it happen....

 

[laptop]

I agree, but they probably will fail to do so, for the reasons already identified.

Then - take note Keir Starmer and Paul Stephenson both - there fucking better be a judicial review of the decision not to prosecute; and I think I know who'd be up for demanding one; and you're both toast if they get one.

This isn't about the Computer Misuse Act any more. This is tampering with (potential) evidence and obstructing the police in the course of an investigation.