Heather Mills says that she and 90 others have been awarded the “highest media libel settlement in British history” after winning their case against News Group newspapers over the News of the World phone hacking scandal. Mills says:
“We have been awarded the highest media libel settlement in British legal history, and with it, a complete and unmitigated apology for the criminal, targeted smear campaign waged against us by News Group Newspapers – including hacking, invasion of privacy, and the publication of countless falsehoods and lies between 1999 and 2010.”
She’s yet to reveal just how big the payout is…
There’s a gentle slap for Tom Watson in McBride’s book. Discussing the 2007 Ealing by-election which was turned into a total cluster for the Tories after it was revealed their candidate Tony Lit was photographed with Tony Blair and gave a donation to the party, McBride explains how he got the story out there:
“I managed to get that photo onto almost every broadsheet front page and on page 2 of every tabloid. That said, given later events, it’s interesting to note that Tom and I almost fell out over the distribution of the photo, since he thought it should be an exclusive for the News of the World.”
He keeps quiet about his close relationship with the newspaper’s political editor these days…
Former Mirror and News of the World hack Dan Evans has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to hack phones, perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. Evans worked at the paper’s Sunday operation under Tina Weaver before moving to the Screws in 2005. He has been awaiting a decision for two years…
UPDATE: Crucially, the the hacking charges relate to Evans’ time at the Mirror, not the News of the World.
Dan Evans charges. Note dates charge 1 & 2 of alleged interception were when he was employed by #DailyMirror http://t.co/oVQKwshpz4
— Mark Lewis (@MarkLewisLawyer) September 3, 2013
Click above to read the Screws’ 16-page pull out Maggie tribute they had prepared in the event of her death. Only for her to outlive them.
Via @DavidWooding
After two years on police bail the former deputy editor of the Screws will not be charged.
After 21 months of hell for my family, CPS have just told my solicitors that there will be NO prosecution of me re my phone-hacking arrest
— Neil Wallis (@neilwallis1) February 22, 2013
The CPS cite “insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction”. The Wolfman is free…
Ex-Screws political editor Ian Kirby is off into the world of lobbying. Kirby has joined MHP Communications as a director to develop new campaigns and advise on media strategy. His experience of changing Gordon Brown’s kids nappies should set him up nicely. The move was announced with a lovely picture of a young looking Ian and an old friend…
