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NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
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Author:  pcernie [ Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Rupert Murdoch's UK tentacle News International, owner of the Sun, the Times and the News of the World titles, has expressed "genuine regret" regarding surveillance operations – specifically, voicemail interception – by staff at the NoTW.

In a statement supplied to the Reg, the company says:

News International has decided to approach some civil litigants with an unreserved apology and an admission of liability in cases meeting specific criteria...

... past behaviour at the News of the World in relation to voicemail interception is a matter of genuine regret. It is now apparent that our previous inquiries failed to uncover important evidence and we acknowledge our actions then were not sufficiently robust ...

Despite this admitted failure to manage any proper investigation even among its own employees, the company goes on:

[Our] pride in our award-winning journalism remains undiminished. We will continue to engage with and challenge those who attempt to restrict our industry's freedom to undertake responsible investigative reporting in the public interest.

The firm says it will offer "damages appropriate to the extent of the intrusion" to those claimants whose privacy it admits the NoTW violated, but will "continue to contest cases that we believe are without merit or where we are not responsible" [our emphasis].

The statement also specifies that it relates only to "voicemail interception at the News of the World during 2004-2006".

The firm adds that it is still helping the Metropolitan Police with their enquiries in the matter. Though possibly not as much as the Guardian has.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/08/notw_apology/

Heh, I wonder what's coming up or has been hidden if they've effectively been forced into that? Or just how many more millions have been paid out behind closed doors? :twisted:

It certainly won't do them any favours in court with those who'll continue with their cases...
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Only regret that they got caught. I see no remorse/regrets here.
Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
+1. Don't trust them.
Author:  ShockWaffle [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Private Eye recently suggested they would try to pull up the drawbridge with settlements in as many cases as possibly because they want to prevent Rebekah Wade and James Murdoch getting drawn into this.

I don't think it's going to work.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
ShockWaffle wrote:
Private Eye recently suggested they would try to pull up the drawbridge with settlements in as many cases as possibly because they want to prevent Rebekah Wade and James Murdoch getting drawn into this.

I don't think it's going to work.

Neither do I. Many people have been kept in the dark over this. Only a few have been named. I am sure that there might be hundreds of potential victims. Average that out at a million per case, including legal fees and you will be looking at a huge settlement. Probably more than the News of the World is worth.
Author:  pcernie [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Amnesia10 wrote:
ShockWaffle wrote:
Private Eye recently suggested they would try to pull up the drawbridge with settlements in as many cases as possibly because they want to prevent Rebekah Wade and James Murdoch getting drawn into this.

I don't think it's going to work.

Neither do I. Many people have been kept in the dark over this. Only a few have been named. I am sure that there might be hundreds of potential victims. Average that out at a million per case, including legal fees and you will be looking at a huge settlement. Probably more than the News of the World is worth.


Their big mistake more recently has been the (alleged) sums they gave the football guy and Max Clifford - now everyone will want similar figures. They've supposedly set aside £20m as if that would begin to cover it :oops:
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
pcernie wrote:
Their big mistake more recently has been the (alleged) sums they gave the football guy and Max Clifford - now everyone will want similar figures. They've supposedly set aside £20m as if that would begin to cover it :oops:

I would imagine that Max would have had a very good claim for millions. Though they have not quite set a precendent by having it settled in court.
Author:  pcernie [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Amnesia10 wrote:
pcernie wrote:
Their big mistake more recently has been the (alleged) sums they gave the football guy and Max Clifford - now everyone will want similar figures. They've supposedly set aside £20m as if that would begin to cover it :oops:

I would imagine that Max would have had a very good claim for millions. Though they have not quite set a precendent by having it settled in court.


The expectation of the victims and the public will be enough - the celebrity culture News Int. equally abuses and maintains has been given a major chance to shift the balance in it's own favour.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 1:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Problem is that now any newspaper comes out with something that is very private they could be accused of phone tapping or hacking. Either way journalists will have a tougher time.
Author:  pcernie [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Amnesia10 wrote:
Problem is that now any newspaper comes out with something that is very private they could be accused of phone tapping or hacking. Either way journalists will have a tougher time.


Just in terms of celebrities, unless they're doing something 'properly illegal' or utterly stupid, I'd have no problem with that :twisted:
Author:  pcernie [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
The Beeb has a good rundown of recent events:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13022583

I honestly don't think the Met should be anywhere near this at the moment, an 'outside' police force should be brought in maybe, or at least one standalone group or investigator. As it is, I could see a government panel being formed at the very least...
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
pcernie wrote:
Amnesia10 wrote:
Problem is that now any newspaper comes out with something that is very private they could be accused of phone tapping or hacking. Either way journalists will have a tougher time.


Just in terms of celebrities, unless they're doing something 'properly illegal' or utterly stupid, I'd have no problem with that :twisted:

It just means no more hacking phones. Liz Hurley was caught out when she was seen kissing Shane Warne. No need for hacking the phone. It will just mean using the old techniques.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
It just gets worse for the NOTW

Quote:
'100 victims' of News of the World phone hacking
The row over the News of the World phone hacking scandal intensified last night after the company privately admitted there could be up to 100 victims.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... cking.html

If that number is accurate can you really expect them to get away with paying out only £20 million. I think treble that easily and possibly a lot more than that especially if you add in legal costs.
Author:  tombolt [ Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
Amnesia10 wrote:
pcernie wrote:
Amnesia10 wrote:
Problem is that now any newspaper comes out with something that is very private they could be accused of phone tapping or hacking. Either way journalists will have a tougher time.


Just in terms of celebrities, unless they're doing something 'properly illegal' or utterly stupid, I'd have no problem with that :twisted:

It just means no more hacking phones. Liz Hurley was caught out when she was seen kissing Shane Warne. No need for hacking the phone. It will just mean using the old techniques.


I'm not convinced that that whole thing was anything other than a publicity stunt. Reminded me of the Hugh grant prostitute incident.
Author:  pcernie [ Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NoTW offers apologies, 'regret' over phone hacks
tombolt wrote:
Amnesia10 wrote:
It just means no more hacking phones. Liz Hurley was caught out when she was seen kissing Shane Warne. No need for hacking the phone. It will just mean using the old techniques.


I'm not convinced that that whole thing was anything other than a publicity stunt. Reminded me of the Hugh grant prostitute incident.


Exactly what I was thinking - all of a sudden she's turning up in Wonder Woman as a villain...
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