NICKDAVIES HackAttack
Howthetruthcaughtupwith
The Full Story of the Phone
RupertMurdoch
Hacking Scandal
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ForJeanDavies,whodiedin1986. Shewouldhavelovedthisstory.
Who’sWho
SueAkers Deputyassistantcommissioner,Metropolitan Police
TamsinAllenLawyerforhackingvictims
MatthewAndersonRight-handmantoJamesMurdoch
SkyAndrewSportsagent,hackingvictim
MrApollo Codenamefororiginalsourceforstory
JoanneArmstrongLegaladvisertoProfessionalFootballers’ Association,hackingvictim
SirIanBlairCommissioner,MetropolitanPolice,2005–09, hackingtarget
DavidBlunkettHomeSecretary,hackingvictim
CharlieBrooksRacehorsetrainer,husbandofRebekahBrooks
RebekahBrooksEditor, NewsoftheWorld andthe Sun,chiefexecutiveofNewsInternationalfromSeptember2009
ChrisBryant LabourMP,hackingvictim
IanBurtonExternallawyer,NewsInternational
LadyBuscombeChair,PressComplaintsCommission,2009–11
VinceCableLiberalDemocratSecretaryofStatefor business
GlennCampbellBBCjournalist
RichardCasebyManagingeditor,the Sun
JonChapmanLegaldirector,NewsInternational
PeterClarkeDeputyassistantcommissioner,incommandof OpCaryatid
MaxCliffordPRagent,hackingvictim
DanielClokeDirectorofhumanresources,NewsInternational
DaveCookDetectivechiefsuperintendent,Metropolitan Police
AndyCoulsonEditor NewsoftheWorld,mediaadvisertothe primeminister
TomCroneIn-houselawyer, NewsoftheWorld andthe Sun
IanEdmondsonAssistanteditor(news), NewsoftheWorld
Emissary Codenameforgovernmentsource
KierenFallonJockey,hackingvictim
PaulFarrelly LabourMPonmediaselectcommittee
DickFedorcioDirectorofcommunications,Metropolitan Police
GeorgeGallowayRespectMP,hackingvictim
CliveGoodmanRoyaleditor, NewsoftheWorld
AndyGrayTVpresenter,hackingvictim
SimonGreenbergDirector,corporateaffairs,NewsInternational
MarkHannaDirectorofsecurity,NewsInternational
CharlotteHarrisLawyerforhackingvictims
DeanHaydonJohnYates’sstaffofficer
AndyHaymanAssistantcommissioner,responsibleforOp
Caryatid
AmeliaHill Guardian reporter
RossHindley NewsoftheWorld reporter
LesHintonChiefexecutiveNewsInternationaluntil December2007
SeanHoareShow-businessreporter,the Sun and Newsof theWorld
JeremyHuntSecretaryofStateforculture,mediaandsport
Lawrence‘Lon’JacobsIn-housecounsel,NewsCorp
Jingle Codenameforpolicesource
TessaJowellSecretaryofStateforculture,mediaandsport
Karl Codenameforpolicesource
IanKatz Deputyeditor,the Guardian
TrevorKavanaghPoliticaleditor,the Sun
JohnKelly Lawyerforhackingvictims
JoelKlein Executivevicepresident,NewsCorp
StuartKuttnerManagingeditor, NewsoftheWorld
DavidLeighInvestigationseditor,the Guardian
MarkLewisLawyerforhackingvictims
Who’sWho
WillLewisGeneralmanager,NewsInternational
Lola Codenameforsourceincriminaljusticesystem
MarkMaberlyDetective,attachedtoOpCaryatid
AliceMacandrewMediaadvisertoJamesMurdoch
KenMacdonaldQCDirectorofPublicProsecutions,2003–08
PaulMcMullanJournalist, NewsoftheWorld
Mango Codenameforwhistle-blowersource
AlexMarunchakExecutiveeditor, NewsoftheWorld
SirChristopherMeyerChair,PressComplaintsCommission,2003–09
FredMichelLobbyistforJamesMurdoch
SiennaMillerActress,hackingvictim
GregMiskiwAssistanteditor(news), NewsoftheWorld
DominicMohanEditor,the Sun
DanielMorganPrivateinvestigator,murdered1987
PiersMorganEditor, DailyMirror and NewsoftheWorld
MaxMosleyVictimof NewsoftheWorld story,fundedhacking victims
GlennMulcairePhone-hackingspecialist, NewsoftheWorld
JamesMurdochExecutivechairmanofNewsInternational, 2007–11
RupertMurdochChairmanandchiefexecutiveofNewsCorp
ColinMylerEditor, NewsoftheWorld
Ovid CodenameforMulcaire’sghostwriter
AlecOwenSeniorinvestigator,Infor mationCommissioner’s Office
BrianPaddickDeputyassistantcommissioner,Metropolitan Police,hackingvictim
LucyPantonCrimereporter, NewsoftheWorld
DavidPerryQCSeniorprosecutor
RobertPestonBBCbusinesseditor
NicolaPhillipsPRtoMaxClifford,hackingvictim
JulianPikeExternallawyer,NewsInternational
JohnPrescottDeputyprimeminister,hackingvictim
AdamPricePlaidCymruMPonmediaselectcommittee
JeremyReedBarristerforhackingvictims
EdRichardsChiefexecutive,Ofcom
AlanRusbridgerEditor,the Guardian from1995
GeraldShamashLawyerforhackingvictims
MichaelSilverleafQCBarristerforNewsInternational
AdamSmithSpecialadvisertoJeremyHunt
KeirStarmerQCDirectorofPublicProsecutions,2008–13
JulesStensonFeatureseditor, NewsoftheWorld
SirPaulStephensonCommissioner,MetropolitanPolice,2009–11
SirJohnStevensCommissioner,MetropolitanPolice,2000–05
KeithSurteesDetective,deputyleadinvestigatoronOp Caryatid
GordonTaylorChiefexecutive,ProfessionalFootballers’ Association,hackingvictim
MarkThomsonLawyerforhackingvictims
NevilleThurlbeckChiefreporter, NewsoftheWorld
HughTomlinsonQCBarristerforhackingvictims
TimToulminDirector,PressComplaintsCommission
MrJusticeVosJudgeinhackingcases
NeilWallisDeputyeditor, NewsoftheWorld
TomWatson LabourMPonmediaselectcommittee
JamesWeatherupNewseditor, NewsoftheWorld
DerekWebbCovertsurveillancespecialist, NewsoftheWorld
JohnWhittingdaleConservativechairofmediaselectcommittee
PhilWilliamsDetective,leadinvestigatoronOpCaryatid
JohnYates Assistantcommissioner,MetropolitanPolice
1.February2008toJuly2009
IwassittinginaBBCradiostudio,gettingreadytovomit.
TheywantedmetotalkaboutabookIhadjustwritten, FlatEarth News,aboutthescaleandoriginsoffalsehood,distortionandpropagandainthemedia.Intheory,Iwashappytotalktothem:I’dspent twoyearsbreakingmybraintoproducethebook,whichwasfinally beingpublishednow,inFebruary2008,andthiswasachanceto persuadepeopletoreadtheresult.Butthethoughtofthisinterview floodedmewithanxiety.
Thiswaslivenationalradio.Worsethanthat,thiswasthe Today programme.TheQueenlistenstothe Today programme;theprime minister,foreignambassadors,thewholedamnedUKpowerelite chewsitsbreakfastwithoneearonthe Today programme.And worstofall,afewminutesearlier,whileIwaspacingupanddown outsidethestudio,justbeforeIsatdownformyordeal,theyhad revealedthattheyhadbroughtinStuartKuttnertoopposeme. Kuttner!
Ihadnevermethim,butI’dheardplenty.Kuttnerwasthisfigure fromtheshadows–themanagingeditorofRupertMurdoch’s News oftheWorld ,lurkingjustbehindtheeditor’sthrone,theguywho keptthesecrets,whogotridoftheproblems,whodealtwiththe reallydirtystuff.Youwouldn’tspendlongtryingtodescribeStuart Kuttnerwithoutusingwordslike‘tough’and‘ruthless’and‘basically veryunpleasant’.
Theinterviewstarted,Imasteredmynervesandstartedtotalk. Kuttnersteppedinacoupleoftimes,toinformthenationthatImust befromadifferentplanetbecausehecertainlydidn’trecognisethe newspaperindustryIwasdescribing.ThenIgotontothe‘darkarts’, outliningthefewscrapsofinfor mationIhadfoundaboutprivate
investigatorswhoforyearshadbeenworkingformostBritishnewspapers,breakingthelawtohelpthemgetscoops.Kuttnermovedin quickly.‘Ifithappens,itshouldn’thappen.Ithappenedonceatthe NewsoftheWorld.Thereporterwasfired;hewenttoprison.Theeditor resigned.’
Certainlyitcrossedmymindthathewasnottellingthetruth.He wasrightonthesimplefactthatonlyonereporterfromthe Newsof theWorld hadbeensenttoprison–theroyaleditor,CliveGoodman –buttheideaofthe‘oneroguereporter’hadneverquitemadesense tome.Goodmanhadbeenjailedayearearlier,inJanuary2007,for interceptingthevoicemailofthreepeoplewhoworkedatBuckingham Palace.Theprivateinvestigatorwhohadhelpedhimtodothat,Glenn Mulcaire,hadbeenjailednotonlyforhackingthevoicemailofthose threeroyaltargetsbutalsoforeavesdroppingonthemessagesoffive otherpeoplewhohadnothingtodowiththeroyalfamily.Whyhad Mulcairedonethat?Nobodyhadsuggestedforamomentthatithad beentheroyaleditorwhohadtoldhimtohacknon-royalvictims.So whohadaskedhimto?Otherreporters?Editors?Mysteriousvoices inhishead?
Kuttnersweptoverthetopofme,onarhetoricalroll.British journalism,hedeclared,was‘averyhonourableprofession’.Anewspaperlikethe NewsoftheWorld wasreallyakindofmoralwatchdog, keepinganeyeoutformisbehaviouramongthepowerful.‘Welive inanageofcorrosionofpoliticsandofpubliclife–degradation,’he warned.
Onthathighnote,theinterviewfinished,andthatmighthavebeen theendofit.Ididn’tbelieveallthisstuffaboutthe NewsoftheWorld beingadefenceagainstthedegradationofpubliclife,butIwasn’t interestedinthe NewsoftheWorld.Ididn’treaditandIdidn’twant towriteaboutit.Iwasonlyrelievedtobeoutofthestudioand happytogooffspreadingmyideasabout FlatEarthNews,whichis mostlyaboutqualitynewspapersandthedeepflawsinthewaythey nowoperate.But,unknowntome,StuartKuttnerhadjustmadea mistake,averybadmistake.‘Itonlyhappenedonce,’hehadsaid. Somewhereoutacrosstheairwaves,amanIhadnevermetnorheard ofhadlistenedtowhatKuttnersaidandhadfeltsoangryaboutit
February2008toJuly2009
thathedecidedtocontactme.Whichiswhathappenedafewdays later.
‘Iwouldliketohaveadiscussionwithyou,’hesaid.‘Ithinkyou willlikewhatIhave.’
Heleftmehismobilephonenumber,buttoldmenevertoleave amessageonit.
It’sfairtosaythatreportingisagreatdealeasierthanmostreporters liketopretend.Peopletellyouthings;youdoyourbesttocheckthem out;andthenyoutellalotofotherpeoplewhatyou’vefound.There aresomehiddensubtletiesinthereandafewsimpleskills,butgenerallyspeaking,thereisnothingverycleveraboutit.
Iarrangedtomeetmyintriguingcaller.Iamnevergoingtobeable tosaywhoheis.That’sareallycommonproblem.Overandagain, youfindthatthepeoplewhohavethemostinterestingthingstosay arethepeoplewhoareleastabletosaythem,becausetheyareunder pressureofsomekind–theyareworriedthattheywillbearrestedor sackedordivorcedorbeatenup.Anonymityprotectsthem.Thisman isgoingtocropupseveraltimes,soheneedsamemorablename.I’ll callhimMrApollo.
AssoonasImethimIlikedhim,butIdidn’tnecessarilytrusthim. WesatinhisroominacentralLondonhotel,himfaffingaboutwith thecoffee-makingequipmentwhilehestartedtotalk,mewondering howheknewsomuchandwhathewantedinreturn.
HetoldmethatKuttnerwasaliar,thatthe NewsoftheWorld had beenhackingphonesallovertheplaceandthatthiswashowthey gotmostoftheirstories:theypickeduptheirleadsbyintercepting voicemail,andthentheywentouttogetphotographsandquotes tolayafalsetrail,sothattheycouldpretendthattheyhadfound thestorybynormal,legitimatemeans.Itwasn’tjustCliveGoodman whohadbeendoingit,hesaid–thatwasacompletejoke,loads ofreportershadbeenatit.Itwassuchaneasytrick,hesaid.You dialyourtarget’smobilephonenumberandwhenyougetthrough totherecordedmessage,youhit‘9’,thentherecordedmessageasks youtoenterafour-digitPINcode.Mostpeopledon’tbotherto
changethecodefromthefactorysetting,soyouknowwhatitis. Or,iftheydochangeit,theyusesomethingreallyobviouslikethe yearoftheirbirth.Youputinthecodeandthat’sit,youcanlisten totheirmessages.Ofcourse,MrApolloexplained,youneedtowork thissothatthetargetdoesn’tanswertheirphonewhenyoucallin. Somaybeyoucallduringthenight,orwhenyouknowthetarget isinameeting.
Mostofthetime,hesaid,itwassoeasytodothisthatyoudidn’t needaprivateinvestigatorlikeGlennMulcairetomakeithappen. Mulcaire’smainjob,hesaid,hadbeento‘blag’themobilephone companies–tocallthemupandpretendtobeoneoftheirstaff–sothathecouldgetnumbersforpeoplewhowereex-directory,or, moreimportant,togetaPINcode changedbacktothefactory settingifthetargethadbotheredtoalterit.Oncethe Newsofthe World wereinsideonetarget’svoicemail,theywouldpickupmessages withthenumbersoftheirclosestassociates,thenhacktheirvoicemail, getmoreassociatesandcreateawholenetworkofeavesdropping aroundthetarget.Thetargetswouldnotdiscoverthecodeshadbeen changedforweeks.Andiftheydiddiscoverit,theywouldthinkit wassomekindoftechnofoul-up.
Thiswasinterestingstuff,anditwastemptingtogetinvolved.It wouldbegoodtoputKuttnerbackintohisbox.Itwouldbebetter stilltodosomethingabouttabloidjournalistsbehavingbadly.Itwas notjustthatasmallminorityofcowboyswithnotebooksweremaking upstoriesandruiningpeople’slives;theywerealsomakingitmuch moredifficultforotherjournaliststodotheirjobs,becausepeople generallynowexpectedtobebribed,bulliedandcheatedbyreporters, sotheywerefarmoredifficulttodealwith.
Butitwasn’tthatgreatastory.Nobodywasgoingtobevery surprisedtobetoldthatsometabloidreportersbehavedbadlyand, evenifIwantedtopursueit,thedifficultywasthatallthiswasjust thewordofMrApollo,whomightberightormightbewrongbut whohadmadeitveryclearthathecouldnotbequotedornamed todefendanythingthatImightwrite.
Bynow,hehadgotthebetterofthecoffee-making,andhesat downandstartedtorelaxandtotalkaboutthepolice.Heclaimed
February2008toJuly2009
thatScotlandYardhadfoundmassesofmobilephonenumberswhich hadbeenloggedbyGlennMulcairebuttheyhadneverfollowedup onthem.TheyhadmadenoattempttoprosecuteMulcaireforall theseotherpossiblevictims,nortofindoutwhoelsemighthavebeen givinginstructionstoMulcaire,noreventotellallthesepeoplethat theyhadbeentargeted.Thiswasgettingmoreinteresting.Whywould thepolicebehavelikethatwhendealingwithaparticularlypowerful newspaper,whichhappenedtobelongtoRupertMurdoch,thebiggest mediamogulinthecountry?
WestartedtalkingaboutthetrialofGoodmanandMulcaire,about thefactthatitneverdidmakesensethatMulcaireadmittedhacking fivenon-royalvictims.ThatwaswhenMrApollofinallyopenedthe doorsothatIcouldseeawayforward.Heclaimedthatoneofthose fiveunexplainedvictimswassuingandwastryingtogetthepolice tohandoversomeoftheevidencewhichtheyhadcollectedandnever revealed.Apparently,itwascausingsomepanicatScotlandYard.Now herewasawaytocheckMrApollo’sstory.Ifajudgewentaheadand orderedScotlandYardtohandoverevidence,thepolicewouldhave tocomplyandthen,withanyluck,Icouldgetaccesstothecourt filesandseewhatwasinthere.
Itwasonlylaterthatevening,afterI’dleftMrApollowiththanks andaguaranteetostayintouch,thatmybrainfinallyclickedinto gearandIunderstoodthebiggestreasonforgoingafterthisstory.It wasnotjustaboutthemostpowerfulnewsorganisationinthecountry apparentlycheatingandbreakingthelaw,andaboutthemostpowerful policeforceinthecountryfailing–maybedeliberatelyrefusing–to goanywherenearexposingthetruthaboutit.Ifinallyrealisedthat whatreallymatteredwasthatthemanwhowaseditingthe Newsofthe World atthetime–AndyCoulson–wasnowworkingasmediaadviser fortheleaderoftheConservativeParty,DavidCameron.Andalthough itwastheLabourPartywhowereingovernment,itlookedverylikely thattheConservativeswouldwinthenextelectionandCameronwould becomeprimeminister.AndyCoulsonwasonhiswayintoDowning Street.
IrememberedCoulsonresigningaseditorofthe NewsoftheWorld afterthetrialofGoodmanandMulcaire,explainingthathehadknown
nothingaboutGoodman’sevilwaysbutsayingthathefeltheshould gobecauseithadhappenedonhiswatch.IfKuttnerwaslyingabout allthis,thenmaybeCoulsonwaslyingtoo.Andyethewasaimingto takeonthejoboforganisingthecommunicationbetweenthegovernmentandthepeopleofthecountry–reallyaveryunsuitableplace foraliar.Morethanthat,ifhereallyhadpresidedoveraregimeof illegaleavesdroppingatthe NewsoftheWorld,whatwouldhedoif hefoundhimselfinDowningStreetandhewantedtofindoutwho wastalkingdirtybehindtheprimeminister’sback?Wouldhegoback tothedarkarts?
Whatisthedifferencebetweenareporteronthe Guardian and a reporteronapaperlikethe NewsoftheWorld?Don’tbelieveanybody whotellsyouthatithasanythingtodowithmoralfibre,orintelligence,orsensitivity.Therearebastardsandmoralweaklings,goodguys andidealists,inbothworlds.Allreportersarereallyverysimilar.They runonaflammablepsychologicalmixture,likepetrolandair,avolatile combinationofimaginationandanxiety.
Youtrainyourimagination,pushingitlikeyou’dpushamuscle untilit’sstrongerthanotherpeople’s,untilitbecomesalmostfreakishly powerful.Andoverandoveragain,youpointitatyourproblemand youguess,withgreatenergyandvividmentalpictures:whatcouldthe truthpossiblybe;wherecouldIpossiblyfindtheevidence;whocould know;whywouldtheytalk;what’snext;what’smissing;howdoI finishthisjigsawpuzzleinthedark?Then,whenyougoouttocheck whatyourimaginationhasdelivered,youcompletethemixtureby pouringinequalmeasuresofstomach-burninganxiety.Whatifthis goeswrong;iftheywon’ttalktome;iftheytalktosomebodyelse withanotebook;iftheylietome;iftheytapeme;iftheygrassme totheopposition?WhatifI’mwrong?Whatifthestupidnewsdesk won’tr unthestory?
Thereisoneotherthing,theequivalentofthesparkthatignitesthe fuelandair.Mostofthereporterswhosurviveandthrivearedriven bysomekindofdeepneed.Iknowonewhospentyearspretending tohimselfandtotherestoftheplanetthathewasnotgay.Hediverted
February2008toJuly2009
hissexualenergyandhiswakinghours,dayandnight,intofighting allthepowersthatbe,andhedidextraordinaryworkuncoveringall kindsofsecretscandalsuntilfinallyheacceptedhimselfandrelaxed andneverreallyproducedanotherstoryworthreading.Iknowanother whosayshegrewupwithasecretinhisfamily–therewasthisthing thatnobodywasallowedtosay.Eventually,inhislateteens,he discoveredthathisfatherwasJewishwhilehismotherwasnotand that,whentheymarried,theirtwofamilieshadprotestedsobitterlythat thecoupleresolvednevertomentionThisThingagain.Sothisreporter can’tstandsecrets,andhehasspentyearsearningalivingandwinning awardsbyhuntingdownconcealmentwhereverhecanfinditandtearing itapart.
OK,somineisthis:Ispentmychildhoodbeinghitbypeople–grown-ups–someofthemgenuinelyvicious,someofthemsimply believingthenoxiousideathatifyousparetherod,youspoilthechild. Ihadbeenworkingasareporterforacoupleofdecades,thinkingI wasinterestedincriminaljusticeandsocialproblems,beforeIlooked backandsawhowoverandagainIhadbeendrawntostorieswhere Imighthavesavedvictims:particularlyvictimsofunfairness(miscarriagesofjustice,policecorruption);and,evenmorethanthat,victims whowerechildren(workingasprostitutes,losingoutatschool,being sexuallyabused,livinginpoverty,strugglinginprison,beingattacked byamentallydisorderednurse).Underlyingallofthiswork,Icould see,wassomedeep-seatedurgetohitbackatanybodyatallwhotakes powerandabusesit.
What’sthedifferencebetweenareporteronthe NewsoftheWorld andoneonthe Guardian?Thedifferenceisintheoffice,inthehierarchy–intheBullyQuotient.ThereisalotofbullyinginFleetStreet –alotofpuffed-up,pissed-up,overpaid,foul-mouthed,self-important editors-in-chiefandpeoplewhorunnewsdesksandfeaturesdesks, whocan’ttellthedifferencebetweenleadershipandspite.I’vecome acrossitinqualitynewsroomsbutthereisnodoubtthattheworstof thebullyingthrivesinthedownmarkettabloidnewsrooms.Why?It beginswithtraintimetables.
Thereare50or60millionpeoplecrammedintoEngland,Scotland andWalesand,eversincetheIndustrialRevolution,it’sbeenpossible
toprintapaperinLondonorGlasgowandputitonatrainat night,knowingthatbydawnitcanreachanyhouseholdintheland. ComparethattotheUS:untiltheelectronicrevolution,anewspaper thatsetoutatnightonajourneyfromNewYorkCity,forexample, wouldbehalfwaytonowherebythenextmorning.Sowhilethe USdevelopedcitypapers,usuallynomorethanacoupleineach city,theUKdevelopedanationalmarketfornewspaperswhichwas burstingwithcompetitionasadozenorsodailytitlesfoughteach otherfortheattentionofallthesereaders.Andthecompetitionhas alwaysbeenmostintenseamongthemass-markettabloids.Their verysurvivaldependsoncirculation,onsellinglotsofpapers–on pr intingsomethingthatthecompetitionhasmissed.Bycontrast, theupmarketpapersdon’texpecttosellmillions:theyaimforthe wealthiestpeopleinthemarketandmakemostoftheirmoneyby carryingadvertisementswhichareaimedattheirreaders’well-padded wallets.
ThecommercialpressureinUKnewsroomsisrelentless,particularly forthemass-circulationtitles.Tabloideditorswillsendouttheir reporterswithanunmistakeablemessagepinnedpainfullytotheback oftheirheads–‘justgetthestory’.Noexcusesareaccepted,nofailure isallowed,youstandonthatdoorsteptillshetalkstoyou,youkeep askingtillyougettheanswer,openthatmiser’spaw,justgetthedamned story.Andalotoftheseeditorswillscreamabuseandshoutthreats andtipverbalacidovertheheadofanyfoolreporterwhodaresto comebackwithanemptynotebook.
Ifyousucceedinatabloidnewsroom,you’llbegivenbigstories andgreatforeigntrips,lotsofbylines,alicencetofiddleyourexpenses, cosyluncheswiththeeditorandprivatepayrises.Ifyoufail,you’ll sitlonelyinacorner,beinggivennostoriesorjustcrapstoriesthat willnevermakeitintoprint;you’llbewokenupatdawnandkept goingtillmidnight;you’llbesentawaytoSunderlandjustasyouwere leavingtheofficetogotoyourownbirthdayparty;ifyouhappento wr itesomethingthatgetsintothepaper,you’llgetnobyline,nothanks, norespite;youwillwishyouweresomebodyelse.(Iknowsomeof thisatfirsthand:Ispentmyfirstfewyearsasareporterontabloid papersandfledtoescapeoneparticularlyremorselessbully.)So,of
February2008toJuly2009
course,whenthosereportersareoutthereontheroadwithnothing muchmorethantheirimaginationandtheiranxietyforcompany,some ofthemmaywelldecidetoinventquotes,fabricatefacts,cheatsources, stealpictures,ignorerules,breaklaws–anythingtobeallowedtofeel good.
Comparedtothat,thelifeofareporteronthe Guardian isassoft asababy’sface.It’snotjustthat–liketheother‘quality’papers–there islesspressure to sell copies.Beyondthat,unliketheotherqualitytitles, the Guardian belongstoatrust.Insteadofhavingshareholderstrying toclawprofitoutofthenewsroom,thetrusthassubsidiarybusinesses whoseprofitsareusedtofundthenewsroom.Thepaperisstillrunas abusinessandithastosurviveinthemarketplace,butthecommercial pressurewhichdistortssomuchbehaviourinsomanynewsroomsis reducedtothebareminimum.
What’sthedifferencebetweenthe NewsoftheWorld andthe Guardian? Fromareporter’sangle?TheBullyQuotient.Justthatreally.I’mallowed tofail.
NoteverythingthatMrApollotoldmewasatotalshock.
WhenIwasresearching FlatEarthNews,overtheprevioustwoyears, IhadcontactedreporterswhohadworkedinFleetStreetnewsrooms, lookingforthestoriesbehindtheirstories,totrytounderstandwhy itisthatsooftenourworkfailstotellthetruth.Alotofreporters hadhelpedandafewofthemhadgonefurtherandstartedtotellme abouttheiruseofprivateinvestigatorstogatherinformationbyillegal means–these‘darkarts’.Comingfromthesoftworldofthe Guardian, Ihadknownalmostnothingofthis.
MyenlightenmentbeganoneeveninginashadybarinSoho, whereaveryexperiencednewsreporterspentseveralhourstalking methroughhisownpaper’sinvolvement.Hestartedwith‘Benjithe Binman’,adeeplyeccentr iclonerwhohadspenthisnightsbuzzing aroundLondoninalittlevan,scavengingintherubbishbinsof lawfirmsandrecordproducersandanybodyelsewhomightbein touchwithcelebrities,andthensellingthenewshefoundamong thefilth.Eventually,hewascaughtandconvictedoftheft,which
hadn’tstoppednewspapersusingprivateinvestigators,orsometimes theirownstaff,tocarryonrummagingthroughgarbageinsearch ofscoops.Thisreportersaidhisownpapercertainlyhaddoneso. Theyhadevendisplayedasatrophyonthenewsroomwallapair ofknickersdiscardedbythedaughterofaleadingpoliticianand retrievedfromherdustbinbysomebodywhowaspleasedtocall himselfajournalist.
Crouchedoveracandleonaricketytableinthecornerofthebar, wetalkedon,andhetoldmeinsomedetailhownewspapershad startedusing‘TrojanHorse’emailstostealdatafromtheirtargets’ computers,whichwasseriouslyillegal;andhowonenewspaper–RupertMurdoch’s SundayTimes –hadendedupdoingsomuchillegal stuffthat,inJuly2003,theyhadappointedaspecialistreporter,David Connett,toactasakindoffallbackfallguy.TheyhadtakenConnett onasastaffreporterbutputhimonafreelancecontract,madesure hedidn’thaveanofficephonenumberoremailaddress,andthen givenhimthejobofcommissioningthedarkarts.Thatway,ifhegot caught,thepapercouldstandback,disownhimandpretendthathe wasjustsomecrazyfreelancerwhowasnothingtodowiththem. Connetthadbecomethebuttofjokesintheoffice,withcolleagues pretendingtheycouldn’thearhim‘becauseyou’renothere,mate,are you?’
Thatlittleschemehadturnedbad.Thepaperhadcutbackits staffandmadeConnettredundant.Heaskedforthepay-offhe wouldhavereceivedasastaffmember.Theytoldhimhewasfreelanceandsohewasn’tentitledtoit.Now,hewastakingthemto anemploymenttribunal.Weekslater,Isatinonthehearingand listenedtotheevidence,includingthedenialsofthe SundayTimes Thetribunalacceptedthatthismasterofthedarkartswasclearly morethanacasualemployeeandawardedhimcompensationfor unfairdismissal.
Otherswhohadworkedforthe SundayTimes wentontoconfirm allthis.Oneoftheirseniorjournalistslatermetmeinthecoffeelounge ofasedatehoteland, inamongsttheoldladieswiththeirteaanddigestivebiscuits,henotonlydescribedthatpaper’slonghistoryofillegally ‘blagging’confidentialdatafromphonecompaniesandbanksand
February2008toJuly2009
governmentdepartmentsbutalsogavemethenameandcontactdetails ofthespecialistwhohadbeendoingitforthemforyears–aformer actorfromSomersetcalledJohnFord.Anotherdescribedhowtheyhad usedaconman,BarryBeardall,totrytoentrapLabourpoliticians.
Sincetheresearchfor FlatEarthNews wasanattempttoinvestigate truth-tellingonqualitynewspapers,myeducationaboutthedarkarts tendedtocomefromthem.Ifoundscrapsofevidencethatotherquality paperswerealsohiringblaggingspecialiststotrickorganisationsinto disclosingconfidentialdata–acriminaloffenceunlessitwasjustified byaclearpublicinterest.TheConservativepeer,LordAshcroft,named aninvestigatorwhohadtrickedtheRoyalBankofScotlandinto disclosingdetailsoftheparty’sbankaccount,onbehalfof TheTimes.A reporterfromthe SundayTelegraph gavemeacopyofafaxaboutDr DavidKelly,theweaponsspecialistwhohadcommittedsuicideafter beingcaughtupinthefuroreoverfalseclaimsaboutIraqiweaponsof massdestruction.Ithadbeensenttothembyaprivateinvestigatoron 18July2003,thedaythatDrKelly’sbodywasfound,anditrecorded everyphonenumberKellyhaddialledinapreviouseight-weekperiod. Similarly,thereporterwhofirsttoldmeaboutbribingpolice officerswasnotfromared-toptabloid.Hehadspentyearswiththe DailyMail ,probablythemosthardlinelaw-and-ordernewspaperin thecountry,alwaysreadytocallformorepoliceandtougherpunishment–unlessitisitselftheoffender.The Mail reportertolddetailed storiesofusingaformerdetectiveasago-between,tohandover envelopesofcashforservingofficers,topersuadethemtodisclose materialfrompolicecomputersorfromcurrentinvestigations.I foundmorejournalists,fromthe Mail andothertitles,whohadalso usedthesamemantobribepolice;andyetother swhohadbeen payingtheirbribesthroughaparticularlynastybunchofprivate investigatorswhoranaLondonagencycalledSouthernInvestigations. Itturnedoutthatallthiscrimehadbuiltupslowlyamongnumerous FleetStreetpapers,qualityandtabloid.Ithadreachedthepointinthe early2000swhereseveralnewsdeskshadbannedtheirreportersfrom commissioninginvestigators,notbecausesomuchoftheirworkwas illegalbutsimplybecausetheywerecostingsuchalot.Thosepapers begantoinsistthatonlyexecutivescouldcommissionthedarkarts.
Ofcourse,littleofthishadeverreachedthepublicdomain.It’snot asifpaperswereabouttostartreportingit. Theonebigglimpsefor thepublicwasthematerialwhichhadbeenpublishedintworeports in2006bytheInformationCommissioner,whosejobistopolice databasescontainingconfidentialinformation.Thesetworeports describedanetworkwhichforyearshadbeenrunbyaprivateinvestigatorcalledSteveWhittamore,whospecialisedinblaggingconfidentialinformationoutofkeyorganisations.Whittamorehadtwomen insidetheDriverandVehicleLicensingAgency(DVLA);acivilianworker intheMetropolitanPolice;aformerHell’sAngelwhospecialisedin trickingBritishTelecom;andaprivateinvestigatorwhotargetedmobile phonecompaniesandbanks.Sincethemid-1990s,Whittamorehad beensittinginhisquietdetachedhouseinasmalltowninHampshire, takingcallsfromjournalistsandusinghisnetworktoblagtheconfidentialinformationtheywanted.Almosteverythinghedidwasillegal.
InMarch2003,theInformationCommissionsetupOperation MotormanandraidedWhittamore.InApril2005,heandthreeofhis networkwentontrialfortheirextractionofconfidentialinformation frompolicecomputers,butthewholecaseendedinconfusion.Whittamore andhisco-defendantsweregiventheminimumpossiblesentence–a resultsoweakthatasecondtrialinvolvingWhittamoreandfiveothers wasscrapped.
Inthebackground,thenewspaperswhohadcommissionedallthis activityfromWhittamoreescapedwithoutagraze.Aseniorfigurefrom theInformationCommissioner’sOfficetoldmethattheirlawyers predictedthat,iftheywerecharged,thenewspaperswouldhiresenior barristerswhowouldfighteveryinchofthewayandrunuphugelegal billsandsimplybusttheirbudget.FleetStreetwasjusttoobigand powerfultofight.Asasaferalternative,thecommissionerhadpublished tworeportsoutliningWhittamore’sactivity,identifyingeightnational dailypapersandtennationalSundayswhich,overathree-yearperiod, hadmadeatotalof13,343requestsforconfidentialdata,almostallof whichwere‘certainlyorveryprobably’obtainedthroughWhittamore byillegalmeans.Yetwithahypocrisywhichturnedouttobetypical, FleetStreetchosetoreportalmostnothingofthistotheoutsideworld.
,IpesteredtheInformation
February2008toJuly2009
Commissioner’sOfficefromhelltobreakfast,tryingtogetholdof thematerialwhichtheyhadseizedfromWhittamoreduring OperationMotorman–hisrecordofthe13,000-plusrequests, completewiththenamesofsome400journalists,thenamesofthe targets,thenatureoftheconfidentialdatarequired,themethod usedtoobtainitandthepricepaid.Previously,theICOhadreleased somesampleinvoices,hopingtogeneratepublicity.Theinvoices hadbeeneditedtoconcealthenamesofWhittamore’stargets,but whattheyclearlyshowedwasthattherewasnosecretaboutwhat washappening.Whittamorewasexplicitlyrecordingillegalsearches onhisinvoices,andFleetStreetnewspaperswerepayingthem.In spiteofallmywheedling,IcouldnotpersuadetheICOtogive memore.Atonepoint,oneoftheirseniorofficialsletmeintoa roomandshowedmethepilesofpaperworkwhichtheyhadseized fromWhittamore.Allhehadtodowaswalkawayandleaveme withit.Hewouldn’t.Thewholebundleofevidenceremained hidden.
IknewIwasalongwayfromknowingthewholetruth.Itwas enoughtoirritateStuartKuttnerontheradio,whichwasanachievementofakind,butIalsoknewthat,inspiteofthepressurewhich theInformationCommissionerhadcreatedbypublishinghistwo reports,nothinghadreallychanged.
Inthesummerof2006,Ihaddoorsteppedoneofthemostactive membersofWhittamore’snetwork.Hewasaconfident,friendlyman and,havingescapedwithouteffectivepunishment,hewashappyto talk. Heexplainedthattheyhaddecidednottostealanymoreinformationfrompolicecomputers,becauseitwasparticularlydangerous, but,apartfromthat,thenetworkwasstilltradingwithasmileonits face,asifthelawhadnevertriedtostopthem.Hesatinfrontofme inhisoffice,illegallytraffickingdata,andshowedmehiscurrentlist ofclients,whichincludednearlyeverynewspaperinFleetStreet. Imagination,anxiety–there’salsoroomforsomeluck.Afewweeks aftermeetingMrApollo,earlyin2008,Ifoundmyselfatamedia function,whereIspokeabout FlatEarthNews.Afterwards,wesatdown
toeatandIdiscoveredthatthemanonmyrightwasaverysenior figurefromScotlandYard.SoIaskedhim, ‘Thatcasewiththephonehacking,wherethe NewsoftheWorld guywenttoprison.Howmany victimswerethere?Wasitreallyonlyeight?’ ‘No,’hesaid,casually.‘Therewerethousands.’ Oh,really?
ItalsohelpsifyouhavesomebodylikeMrApollotoguideyou. Hestayedintouchandstartedtoprovideaninvaluablestreamof information.Crucially,hewasabletogivemethenameofthenonroyalvictimwhowasnowsuingthe NewsoftheWorld – GordonTaylor, thechiefexecutiveoftheProfessionalFootballers’Association,aprime targetforaSundaytabloidinsearchofstoriesabouttheprivatelives ofstarplayers,whowouldturntoTaylorforhelpiftheyfoundthemselvesintrouble.
And,justasMrApollohadsuggestedduringourfirstmeeting,there wasindeedsomepanicaboutthislegalactionatScotlandYard.Thiswas largelybecauseGordonTaylorwasbeingrepresentedbyalawyerwho, forthosewhoopposehim,islikeanightmareinadarksuit–Mark Lewis,verybright,veryambitiousandabsolutelydevotedtothesmell oftrouble.Ifoundthatthereweresomepeoplewhohadacrudetheory aboutLewisandhisweirdlyunflinchingwayofwalkingintoenemyfire withaboyishgrinonhisface.Theyreckoneditisbecausehesuffers frommultiplesclerosis–‘he’sdying,sohehasnofear’.Thatmissedthe pointentirely.ItistruethathehasMS,whichgiveshimapronounced limp,butthatisn’twhatdrivestheman.Bychance,Icameacrosssomebodywhohadbeenatprimaryschoolwithhim,whosaidthathehasn’t reallychangedsincetheageofnine.Eventhen,hewasthesame–clever, cockyanddisobedient.MarkLewisjustlovesbeinganuisance.
Clearly,itwasLewiswhowasthebrainsbehindGordonTaylor’s legalaction,whohadspottedtheweaknessinNewsInternational’s storyandwhowasnowconfrontingthemwithonesimpleallegation –thatifitwasn’tCliveGoodmanwhohadtoldGlennMulcaireto hackGordonTaylor’sphone,thensurelyitwassomebodyelseatthe NewsoftheWorld.AccordingtoApollo,Lewishadnowhiredabarrister andgonetocourtandpersuadedajudgetoorderthepolicetohand overanyevidencewhichtheypossessedrelatingtothehackingof
February2008toJuly2009
Taylor’sphone.Apollodidn’tknowwhattheevidencewas,butafew peopleattheYardwhoknewaboutitwereworried.
IsoontrackeddownMarkLewisattheofficeofaManchesterlaw firm,anddidmybesttorecruithimasanally.Theproblemwasthat hewashemmedinbyconfidentialityandsohewasnotallowedto help.Also,asIlaterdiscovered,hetakessomeprideinbeingmaddening andveryrarelydoesanythingthathedoesnotwanttodo.
IfeverIwasgoingtobeabletowritethisstory,Ineededfarmore detail.Ingapsbetweenworkingonotherstoriestokeepthe Guardian happy,Iwentoff,followingmyimaginationwhereveritled,insearch ofpoliceofficersandCrownprosecutors,lawyersandprobationofficers, anybodyatallwhohadbeeninvolvedintheoriginaltrialofGoodman andMulcaireandwhomightknowsomethingabouttheevidence whichhadnotbeendisclosedincourt.Imadesomeprogress.Itried tofindanybodywhohadanythingtodowithGordonTaylor–friends, colleagues,enemies.Imadelessprogress.
Overtime,Ilookedforanybodywhohadeverhadanykindofjob atthe NewsoftheWorld,anybodywhohadeverhadanykindof connectiontothetopofScotlandYard.Ifoundasecondsourcewho hadhadsomeaccesstothematerialgatheredbypoliceintheoriginal inquiry.HeechoedtheestimateofthenumberofvictimswhichIhad beengivenbytheseniorYardfigureatthemediafunction:‘Twoor threethousand,’hesuggested.
Iwentbackandlookedmorecloselyattheofficialversionofevents. InMarch2007,twomonthsafterGoodmanandMulcaireweresent toprison,thecasewasexaminedbytheHouseofCommonsselect committeeonculture,mediaandsport.Thecommitteecalledasa witnessLesHinton,thechiefexecutiveofthe NewsoftheWorld’sUK owner,NewsInternational,andaskedhimifhehadconducted‘afull, rigorousinternalinquiry’andwas‘absolutelyconvinced’thatGoodman hadbeentheonlyper sononthepaperwhoknewaboutthehacking ofphones.‘Yes,wehave,’Hintonreplied,‘andIbelievehewasthe onlyperson.’Hintonaddedthattheneweditor,ColinMyler,whohad replacedAndyCoulson,wasstillinvestigating.Whichwasalittleodd becausetwelvedaysbeforeHintongavethisevidence,Mylerhadalready toldthePressComplaintsCommission(PCC)thathehadconcluded
thatGoodman’shackingwas‘aberrational’,‘arogueexception’and‘an exceptionalandunhappyeventinthe163-yearhistoryofthe Newsof theWorld,involvingonejournalist’.
ThecasewasalsoexaminedbythePCC,whichhadbeenestablishedbythenewspaperindustr yin1991inanattempttoprovethat itwascapableofregulatingitself.Inthiscase,Ifound,thePCC’s chairman,SirChristopherMeyer,aformerBritishambassadortothe USA,hadpromisedtoinvestigate‘theentirenewspaperandmagazine industryoftheUKtoestablishwhatistheirpractice’.InMay2007, thePCChadannouncedtheresultsofits‘wide-ranginginquiry’, claimingthatithad‘conductedaninvestigationintotheuseof subterfugebytheBritishnewspaperandmagazineindustry’.This ‘investigation’turnedouttohaveinvolvedwritingtoeditorstoask abouttheinternalcontrolswhichwouldpreventtheirjournalists abusingtheirposition,withoutevenattemptingtofindoutifthey hadbeenbreakingthelaw;optingnottoaskanyquestionsofthe outgoingeditorofthe NewsoftheWorld,AndyCoulson,onthe groundsthathehadlefttheprofession;optingnottoaskanyquestionsofanyotherexecutive,editororreporterwhohadworked therewhenGlennMulcairewashackingphones;andchoosinginstead toaskquestionsonlyoftheincomingeditor,ColinMyler,who necessarilyhadnodirectknowledgeofwhathadbeengoingon beforehisarrivalsincehehadbeeneditingMurdoch’s NewYorkPost atthetime.ThePCCreportfoundnoevidenceofanyillegalactivity byanymediaorganisationbeyondthatwhichhadbeenrevealedat thetrialofGoodmanandMulcaire.Atthetimeofthereport,the chairmanofthePCC’spowerfulCodeofPracticeCommitteewas LesHinton,thechiefexecutiveofNewsInternational.
‘Movealongnow,there’snothingtoseehere.’
Thiswasgettingmoreandmoreinteresting.IftheinformationI wascollectingwasright,thenforsomereasonthepolice,theHouse ofCommonsandthePressComplaintsCommissionhadallfailedto gettothetruth.Itallreekedofpower–well,theabuseofpower. WhatdidCoulsonknow?WhatdidLesHintonorevenMurdoch know?
February2008toJuly2009
ThekeytothedoorwasGordonTaylor’slegalaction.Bythesummer of2008,Apollowastellingmethatitwasnotjustthepolicewho hadbeenorderedtohandovermaterial.MarkLewisandhisbarrister, JeremyReed,hadalsopersuadedthejudgethattheInformation Commissioner’sOfficemustpartwithsometreasure.So,whilethe policehadbeentoldtodiscloseanyrelevantmaterialtheyhadseized fromGlennMulcaire,theICOhadbeeninstructedtodisclosethe entirerecordofeveryjobwhichSteveWhittamoreandhisnetwork hadperformedforthe NewsoftheWorld –abigchunkofthematerial whichIhadglimpsedbutconspicuouslyfailedtoobtainwhenIwas researching FlatEarthNews.Thesetwocachesofevidencewould surelynailthestory.Apolloreckonedthatthecourtalreadyhadthem. Buthowtogetholdofthem?ABritishcourtcanbeasecretiveplace.
Apollodiscoveredthattherehadalreadybeenpreliminaryhearings attheHighCourtatwhicheachsidehadproducedformalstatements, ofclaimanddefence.Readingthem, Ibegantoseetheoutlineof whatwashappening.WhenMarkLewishadfirstsubmittedaclaim forbreachofprivacyonbehalfofGordonTaylor,backin2007,the NewsoftheWorld hadhiredanexpensivelawfirm,Farrer&Co.–who oddlyalsosometimesactedfortheroyalhouseholdwhosephones hadbeenhacked.Inlong-windedlegalterms,Farrer&Co.had submittedadefencewhichnotonlytoldGordonTaylortogetlost,it alsoappliedtothecourttohavehiscasestruckout.Butnowthatthe policeandtheICOhadhandedovertheirevidence,thingshadchanged. Thecasehadnotbeenstruckout.Farfromit,the NewsoftheWorld hadbeenforcedtochangetheirpositioncompletely.Thecourtdocumentswereshortondetailbut,asfarasIcouldmakeout,thenew evidencewhichhadbeendisclosedbythepoliceandtheICOshowed thatsomeoftheirreportershadbeenroutinelybreakingthelawwith SteveWhittamoreand,furthermore,crucially,thatotherreportersapart fromCliveGoodmanhadbeeninvolvedinhackingphones.
Apolloheardthatthereweresomeverytensenegotiationsgoing on,withNewsInternationalofferingbigmoney–seriouslybigmoney –toGordonTaylorifhewouldallowthecasetobesealedandkept secret.Forreasonswhichbecameclearlater,Taylorwasapparently temptedtosettle.
Then,thatautumn,Iheardthatthecasehadexpanded.Ithad emerged(presumablyfromtheevidencewhichpolicehadhanded over)thatthe NewsoftheWorld hadalsobeenlisteningtothevoicemail oftwoofGordonTaylor’sclosestassociates–hisin-houselegaladviser, JoArmstrong,andanoutsidesolicitorwhospecialisedinsport,John Hewison.Nowthey,too,weresuingthroughMarkLewis.Withthree litigants,thepaperwashavingtoofferevenmoremoneytokeepthe wholethingquiet.
Inthebackground,attheendofJuly2008,the NewsoftheWorld hadlostaHighCourtcasebroughtbyMaxMosley,presidentofthe bodywhichrunsFormulaOnemotorracing.Mosleyhadsuedthem forbreachofprivacy.InMarchofthatyear,theyhadsecretlyvideoed himplayingsadomasochisticsexgameswithfiveprostitutesandthen displayedpartsofthevideoontheirwebsite,exposingMosley’snaked bodyforalltheworldtosee.TheHighCourtsawthisasanexceptionallybrazenbreachofprivacyandawardedhimhigherdamages thanhadeverbeengivenbyaBritishcourtdealingwithaprivacy action–£60,000.
InthecaseofGordonTaylor,Idiscovered,NewsInternationalfinally agreedtopaymorethan£400,000indamages,anenormoussum.The breachofTaylor’sprivacywasnothinglikeassevereasthatinMax Mosley’scase.Surelythiswashushmoney.Thepaperalsoagreedtopay upto£300,000tocoverhislegalbills. Thedealhadbeenstruckduring thesummerof2008,butNewsInternationalhadthenbecomeembroiled inanothersixmonthsofwranglingtosettlethecasesbroughtbyJo ArmstrongandJohnHewison.Thatcostthemafurther£140,000in damagespluslegalbills.Thewholepackageamountedtojustover £1million.Andanessentialelementofeverypartofthesettlementwas thatallofthoseinvolvedwouldkeepallofitsecret,forever.Onevery goodinformantclaimedthatthedealhadbeenapprovedbyRupert Murdoch’sson,James,whohadrecentlytakenoverfromLesHintonas headofNewsInternationalandwhowas,inaddition,thebossofthe wholeMurdochbusinessinEuropeandAsia.Ifthatwasright,then Murdoch’ssoncouldhavehisfingerprintsona£1millioncover-up. Bythetimethesettlementwasreached,itwasthespringof2009 andIwassurfacingfromahorriblycomplicatedinvestigationofoffshore
February2008toJuly2009
taxhavensforthe Guardian.Inthemeantime,Ihadfoundseveralsources whowerewillingtohelponthehackingstory,aslongasIdidnot disclosetheirrole.Fromoneofthem,Ihadmanagedtogetsome electrifyingmaterial–extractsfromthetwocachesofevidence,from theICOandthepolice,whichhadforcedNewsInternationaltosettle thecasesbroughtbyGordonTaylorandhistwolawyercolleagues.I hadbeengiventhisonthestrictconditionthat,althoughIcould summariseit,IcouldnotsayIhadanyofitinmypossession.Good enough.Itwaspowerfulmaterial,intwodifferentways.
First,itrevealedthehugescaleonwhichthe NewsoftheWorld had beenroutinelyandcasuallyinvadingtheprivacyoftheirtargets.It turnedoutthatSteveWhittamorehadrecordedhisworkinfourexercisebooks,withadifferentcolourfordifferentnewspapergroups.A bluebookcontainedever ythinghehaddoneforNewsInternational. Now,atlast,Ihadmyhandsonthespreadsheetwhichhadbeen preparedbytheInformationCommissioner,listingdetailsfromthe bluebook–everyrequestmadebyNewsInternationaljournalistsin thethreeyearsbeforeWhittamorewasraidedinMarch2003.There werehundredsandhundredsofthem.Thereportershadused Whittamore’snetworkofblaggersandinsidersroutinelytoextract informationfromtheconfidentialrecordsofthepolicenational computer,BritishTelecom,banks,hotels,thevastdatabaseofsocial security,theDVLAandthemobilephonecompanies.Someofthe targetswerefamousnames–actorslikeJudeLawandSadieFrost. Somewerelinkedtothefamous–thegrandsonofLordMountbatten, andwitnessestothemurderoftheTVpresenterJillDando.Others weresimplyordinarypeoplewhohadcaughtareporter’seye–the ownersofeverycarwhichwasparkednearavillagegreenwherethe actorHughGrantwasplayingcricket.
Ithoughtbacktothe1970sand80s,whenthesecretstateroutinely invadedtheprivacyofitstargets,andanetworkoflawyersandpoliticiansandjournalistshadworkedhardtotrytomakethepoliceand securityagenciesaccountable.Finally,thoseagencieshadbeenforced toacceptstrictguidelinesfortheuseofsurveillanceoncitizens.Yet now,tabloidjournalistshadpulledonthesecretpoliceman’sboots andstartedtoengageinwantonsurveillance,withoutanykindof
accountabilityordueprocess:simply,theyspiedwheretheywanted. Unlessthiskindofblaggingwasjustifiedbystrongpublicinterest,it wasillegal.Certainly,itwaswrong.Andthepaperworkfromthepolice, dealingwithGlennMulcaire,revealedevenmoreofthisinvasion.
LiketheWhittamorepaperwork,itshowedthatMulcairehadtargeted allkindsofpublicfiguresaswellasordinarypeoplewhohadstrayed unwittinglyintothepathofthe NewsoftheWorld.Icouldnotbesure exactlywhatMulcairehaddonetoallofthem–whetherhehad blaggedtheirconfidentialdataorhackedtheirvoicemail,whetherhe hadsucceededorfailed–butitwasclearhewasinvolvedinavery bigoperation.Ifhehadsucceededinhackingtheirvoicemail,thatwas illegalinallcases–therewasnopublic-interestdefencetojustifyit.
Some of the targetswere particularly sensitive. For example,the paperworkIsawincludedinvoiceswhichmadeitclearthatGlenn Mulcairehadbeenpaidbythe NewsoftheWorld totargetseveralsenior governmentministers,includingTessaJowell,whohadbeentheSecretary ofStateresponsibleforthemedia,andJohnPrescott,thedeputyprime ministerthroughoutTonyBlair’stenyearsinDowningStreet,fromMay 1997toJune2007.InPrescott’scase,thepaperworksuggestedthatthe NewsoftheWorld’sprimaryinteresthadbeenthedisclosureinthespring of2006thathehadbeenhavinganaffair.Thesensitivity,however,was thatPrescottatthattimehadstillbeeninpost,handlingallkindsof secrets–economic,diplomatic,military.Andyet, on thefaceofit,the policehaddonenothingaboutit;theyhadnotevenwarnedthesecond mostseniormemberofthegovernmentthathehadbeentargetedby amanwhospecialisedininterceptingcommunications.
Buttherewasasecondreasonwhyallthispaperworkwasexplosive –becauseofwhatitrevealedabouttheperpetrators.TheWhittamore materiallistedthenamesoftwenty-sevendifferent NewsoftheWorld journalistsandfourothersfromtheMurdochdaily,the Sun,whohad hiredtheblaggingnetwork.CheckingthroughadatabaseofFleet Streetstories,Ifoundthatallofthemhadbeenworkingeitherfor thenewsdeskorforthefeaturesdepartment.Neitherofthosedepartmentswasverybig.Together,asfarasIcouldtell,theyemployedno morethanthirtyorfortyreportersandexecutives.Itlookedlikewell overhalfofthemhadbeencommissioningWhittamore.Betweenthem
February2008toJuly2009
theyhadmademorethan1,000requestsforinformationoverathreeyearperiod,morethanoneforeveryworkingday–requestswhich, Ialreadyknew,hadbeenanalysedbytheInformationCommissioner whohadfoundthatalmostallofthemwere‘certainlyorveryprobably’illegal.AndsomeofthosewhohadcommissionedWhittamore wereveryseniorjournalists:RebekahBrooks,whohadbeeneditorof the NewsoftheWorld atthetimeoftherequests(andwhohadnow becomeeditorofthe Sun);GregMiskiw,theassistanteditorfornews; DougWight,theScottisheditor;NevilleThurlbeck,thechiefreporter andformernewseditor;JulesStenson,thefeatureseditor.
Morethanhalfthejournalistsinnewsandfeatures?Andtheirbosses? Collectivelycommissioninghundredsofsearcheswhichappearedto bepotentiallyillegal.Surely,thiswassystematic.HowcouldCoulson –thedeputyeditoratthetime–nothaveknown?
TheMulcairematerialwasevenmoresignificant.Quitesimply,it kickedalarge,gapingholeinthestorythatNewsInternationalhad toldtothepolice,thepublicandParliament;anditraisedsomevery ser iousquestionsaboutthefailureofthepoliceandprosecutorsto exposethetruth.Thereweretwoparticularlyimportantdocuments. Onewasaprintoutofanemail,fromross.hindley@news-of-the-world. co.uk.AsearchinthedatabaseofFleetStreetstoriesquicklyestablished thatRossHindleywasanewsreporteratthe NewsoftheWorld.Ithad beensenttoshadowmen@yahoo.co.uk.Thatprovedtobetheemail addressofGlennMulcaire.Itwasheaded‘transcriptforneville: wednesdayjune292005’.CheckingthedatabaseofFleetStreetstories, IfoundthattherewasonlyoneNevilleonthe NewsoftheWorld –Neville Thurlbeck,thechiefreporter,whohadalsoshownupasacustomer ofSteveWhittamore.Therethenfollowedthetranscriptsofthirty-five voicemailmessageswhichhadbeenleftonthemobilephonesofGordon Taylorandhislegaladviser,JoArmstrong.Thiswasstraightforwardevidence whichsuggestedthatatleasttwootherreportersfromthe Newsofthe World hadbeeninvolvedinhandlingillegallyinterceptedvoicemail.It gavethelietotheofficialversion–theclaimbythe NewsoftheWorld andbyRupertMurdoch’sexecutivesandbyScotlandYardandbythe PressComplaintsCommission–thatthe‘roguereporter’CliveGoodman hadbeentheonlypersononthepaperwhoknewaboutit.
Aseconddocumentwasalsohighlysuspicious–acontractsigned bytheassistanteditor,GregMiskiw,inFebruary2005,i.e.fourmonths beforeHindley’semailwassent,offeringGlennMulcaireapayment of£7,000ifhebroughtinaparticularlyhostilestoryaboutGordon Taylor,whichwasoutlinedinthecontract.Whatwasmostsuspicious aboutthedocumentwasthatithadbeendrawnupusingoneof Mulcaire’sfalsenames,PaulWilliams.Whywouldanassistanteditor signacontractwithsomebodywhowasusingafalsename?Because hewascommissioningillegalactivity,perhaps?
Finally,Ialsoheardthattherewasatape-recordingofGlennMulcaire explainingtoareporterexactlyhowtogetaccesstoGordonTaylor’s voicemailmessages,astep-by-stepguideintheartofphone-hacking. Thereporter’sname,Iwastold,soundedlikeRyanorRyall.
Allthiswastrulydamagingforthe NewsoftheWorld.Evenifthey wantedtoclaimthattheyknewnothingabouthackingwhenClive Goodmanwasarrested,theyhadknownaboutthispaperworkfor months,sinceitwasdisclosedintheGordonTaylorlegalactionearlier in2008.Yettheyhadmadenoattempttocorrecttherecordinany way.AndwhataboutScotlandYard?Thismaterialhadbeenseized fromGlennMulcairewhenpolicearrestedhiminAugust2006.Ithad beensittinginpolicehandseversince.Hadtheydoneanythingatall topursueit,tointervieworarrestother NewsoftheWorld peoplewho wereinvolved?Andifnot,whynot?Andwhyhadtheynoteven mentionedthisincourtattheoriginaltrial?
Andsurelythiswasonlythebeginning.AsfarasIcouldtell,the courthadorderedthepolicetohandovermaterialwhichtheyheld specificallyinrelationtoGordonTaylor.Ifitwastruethattherereally werethousandsofvictims,thenitlookedasiftherewouldbethousands moredocumentsinScotlandYard’svaults,aboutothervictimsand possiblyaboutotherperpetratorsatthe NewsoftheWorld.Justhow muchwereNewsInternationalconcealing?Justhowmuchevidence hadthepoliceburiedaway?
But,ofcourse,asfarasNewsInternationalandthepolicewere concerned, thecasehadbeensettled.Themoneyhadbeenhanded overtoGordonTaylorandthetwootherswhohadjoinedtheaction, JoArmstrongandJohnHewison.Thepaperworkhadbeensealedwith
February2008toJuly2009
theblessingoftheHighCourt.Nobodywastoknowanythingabout anyofthis.
Well,thatwastheirplan.
BobWoodwardofthe WashingtonPost oncesaidthat‘thebestjournalismisoftendoneindefianceofmanagement’.True.Atbest,news managersaredesperateforcopy,sotheywon’tgivereportersthetime theyneedtoworkonstories;atworst,theyarelittlepeoplewithbig titleswhothinktheyshouldprovethemselvesbyinterferingallday long.
ButI’mfreelance.IworkfromhomewhereIcanbealmostinvisibletothepeoplewhoemployme.SoIhideoutinmystudydown indeepestSussexwithnothingtodisturbmebutoutbreaksofvery loudmusicandadistantviewofathirteenth-centurychurch,happy inthehopethatthe Guardian willforgetmeandintheknowledge thatIdon’tneedaschoolprefecttostandovermetotellmetowork.
BylateJune2009,finallyarmedwithenoughdetailandmycollectionofexplosivepaperwork,Iwasmoreorlessreadytorunthe hackingstor yandsoIneededtogouptoLondontogetthe Guardian onside.IthadbeenwelloverayearsinceIhadencounteredStuart KuttnerontheBBCradio Today programme.Ihadbeenworkingon otherprojectsaswell,butthisonehadgotbiggerandbigger.
Ihadlunchwiththe Guardian editor,AlanRusbridger,inthenewspaper’sswankynewglassofficeintheareabehindKing’sCrossStation whichwasoncelinedwithprostitutesandcrackdealersbutnowtrades innothingmoredangerousthanchailatteandcroissants.
Rusbridgerisdifferentfromothernewsmanagersinatleasttwo ways.First,heisafriend.HeandIstartedasjuniornewsreporters onthe Guardian onthesamedayinJuly1979.Nowthatheisthe editor,wehaveaverysimpledeal:Ibringhimstories;hecovers myback.HeknowsIwon’tlethimdown;Iknowhewon’tmess meabout.
Second,hehasabackbone.FleetStreetiswellstockedwithambitiouscowards,whohaverisentothetopbygrinningobedientlyat anybodywhoishigheruptheladderthanthem.Thatkindofeditor
wouldtakeonelookatastorywhichwasboundtocausetrouble withthelargestnewsorganisationinthecountryandthelargestpolice forceandthelargestpoliticalpartyand,forgoodmeasure,thePress ComplaintsCommission,andtheywouldhavekilleditorcutitback andtuckeditawayatthebottomofpagefive,hopingnobodywould noticeit.ButRusbridgerlikedit.
Weagreedthatwemustrunitsoon,beforeParliamentroseforits summerrecess,sothatwecouldbesureitwouldhavesomeimpact.I hadalittlebitmoreworktodoonit.Ineededtoapproachsomeof thekeyplayers,includingCoulsonandNewsInternational,toseeif theyhadanythingtosay.Ialsohadaworryaboutit.
Iwasnotsureaboutnamingtwenty-sevenjournalistsfromthe News oftheWorld andfourothersfromthe Sun whohadbeencommissioning SteveWhittamore’snetwork;orthenewsreporter,RossHindley,who hadsenttheemailforNevilleThurlbeck,containingthetranscriptsof voicemailmessages.IdidnotwanttocreatemoreCliveGoodmans –morereporterswhocouldbedismissedasroguesbyseniorpeople whowere,infact,theoneswhowerereallyresponsible.Blametends tofalldownwards.Also,perhapswrongly,Ihadaqueasyresistanceto namingjournalists,justbecauseIamajournalist.Weagreedtohold backthenamesofallbutthemostseniorandthemostculpable.
Iexplained,too,thatalthoughIhadgotholdofalotofpaperwork, Icouldn’tadmitthat.Ourevidencewouldhavetostayhidden.We frightenedeachotheralittlewithsomespeculationaboutwhich particularpartsofourprivatelifecouldbedraggedouttopunishus. Andthenweagreedtopublishinthenextweekorso.
We’dprobablybeOK.
2.Insidethe NewsoftheWorld
Basedoninterviewswithformerjournalistsfromthe NewsoftheWorld as wellasdocumentsanddetailwhichemergedintheLevesonInquiryandin courthearings.
AndyCoulsonhadagoodviewfromhisoffice.Sittingathisdesk,he couldlookoutthroughhisglasswallandseethebeatingheartof the NewsoftheWorld.Rightinfrontofhimwasthe‘backbench’–the rowofdeskswherehewouldoftensitwithhislieutenants,filtering allthematerialthatwasbeingpumpedintothepaperfromnews agenciesandfreelancersandfromhisownstaff,makingthedecisions thatshapedthepaper.
Beyondthebackbench,hecouldseethepicturedeskandthenthe newsdeskwhereseveralexecutivesranthenewsreporterswhowere crampedtogetherinagrouponthefarsideoftheroomand,nextto them,thesub-editorswhowouldchecktheirstoriesandwritetheir headlines.Aroundtheedgesofthenewsroomwerethefeaturewriters, thesportswriters,officesforafewotherexecutivesandaspecialcubicle fortheroyaleditor,CliveGoodman.ThiswasCoulson’sworld,and heruledit.Butthatwasn’tthebestpartoftheview.
Thebestsightwasovertohisright,justtothesideoftheback bench,wherehecouldalwaysseeit,whereeverybodycouldseeit –thetrophycabinet.Hehadjustordereditbrandnew,inApril2005, becausehewasproudofwhathisstaffhadachieved.Thiswasthe biggest-sellingpaperinthecountry–3.5millioncopieseverySunday. Itwasprobablythebiggest-sellingpaperintheWesternworld.Ithad thebiggestbudgets,thebiggestimpact.Nobodybeatthe Newsofthe World.Whichwaswhythenewcabinetnowdisplayedthebiggest
prizeinBritishjournalism–theawardforNewspaperoftheYearfor 2004/5.
Inthelasttwelvemonths,theyhadbroughtinonebigscoop afteranother.DavidBeckhammightbeagreatfootballerandhe mighthavethoughthewascleverenoughtohaveanaffairwithout hiswifeoranybodyelsefindingout,butthey’dcaughthimand exposedhimforsleepingwithhispersonalassistant,RebeccaLoos, andspreadthestoryoversevenpages.Afewmonthslater,they’d donethesamewiththeEnglandfootballmanager,Sven-Göran Eriksson,whentheycaughthimhavinganaffairwithFariaAlam, asecretaryattheFootballAssociation.Totopthat,amonthlater theyhadexposedtheHomeSecretary,DavidBlunkett,whohad beenhavinganaffairwithamarriedAmericanpublisher,Kimberly Quinn.Asabonus,theydiscoveredthata Guardian journalist,Simon Hoggart,wasalsohavinganaffairwithQuinn,soafewweekslater theyhadtossedhimintothemixaswell.Weekafterweek,theyhad poundedtheoppositionpapers.
ForAndyCoulson,agedthirty-seven,thiswasapeak.Hehadcome alongwayinashorttime.Hehadleftschoolattheageofeighteen, armedonlywithsomeAlevels,averygoodbrainandoneburning ambition:tobecomeashowbizreporter.Ittookhimjusttwoyearsof workingonalocalpaperinEssextohithistarget.In1988,agedonly twenty,hewashiredbythe Sun tobecomepartoftheteamthat producedthegossipcolumn,Bizarre.Thecolumnwasbrashandloud –justlikeitseditor,PiersMorgan.Itwasobsessedwiththeprivate livesofrockstars,filmstars,TVstars,anybodywhocouldsprinkle glitteronthecolumn’sgossip.Coulsonwaspitchedintoaworldof A-listcelebritiesandClassAdrugs.
ThereweresomepeopleworkingonBizarrewhodisappeared headlongintoablurofnon-stoppartying.OneofCoulson’sclosest friends,SeanHoare,whoworkedbesidehimonthecolumn,usedto startthedaywithwhathecalled‘arockstar’sbreakfast’–aJack Daniel’sandalineofcoke–andthenhewouldcarryonpartying withwhateverPRpeopleorcelebswouldfindhimastorytojustify hisexpenses.
‘Myjob,’Hoareusedtosay,‘istotakedrugswithrockstars.’
Therewasatradition,knownastheFridayFeeling,whenHoareor oneoftheotherjournalistswouldgoofftothe Sun cashieranddraw out£300andbuysomecharlie(itwasanoldNewsInternational traditionthatsomeoftheback-upstaffwouldalwayshaveanice supply)andthenthey’dgetcokedoutoftheirheadsandstartthe weekend.
ThosewholikedCoulsonusedtosayhewascalmatthecore;he wouldalwaysstaystraightenoughtofilehiscopy.Inspiteofhis youth,heseemedtohavelandedfullyformed,withhislightblue shirtandhisdarkbluesuit,allneatandgrownup.Otherssaidhe wascold,thatnomatterwhatwasgoingon,Andywouldalways survive;behindthatmaskofmild-manneredcompetence,hewas ruthless.
HoarewasfuriouswithhimonetimewhenHoarehadbrought inastoryaboutafamousactressonlytofindthatCoulson,first, refusedtopublishit;second,tookthefamousactressonholiday;third, wasclearlybeingrewardedinherbed;fourth,andworstofall,told thefamousactresshowHoarehadmanagedtogetthestoryinthe firstplace,withtheresultthatthesourcewasexposedandlostforever. WhenHoarediscoveredallthis,hetoldCoulsondirectandtohis facethathewasacompletecunt.Coulsonrepliedwithalinewhich becamearegularcatchphraseasheworkedhiswayupwards:‘I’llmake ituptoyou,mate.’Asthoughitnevermatteredwhatyoudid,because youcouldalwaysthrowafavourinsomebody’sdirectionandjust moveon.Withinsixyears,hehadreplacedPiersMorganaseditorof theBizarrecolumn.
first place, with the result that the source was exposed and lost for ever.
Fouryearslater,inJanuary1998,Coulsonclimbedfurtherupthe treeandbecameassociateeditorofthe Sun,workingalongsidethenew deputyeditor–asharp,sassy,ambitiousyoungwomancalledRebekah. Theyalreadykneweachotherabit.Now,thetwoofthembonded. Peopleguessedtheymustbesleepingtogether,thoughnobodywas sure.Theymadeateam–theywerebothyoungandclever,theyhad bothstar tedwithnothingandtheybothsharedanintenseambition. Andtogethertheymadeit.
InMay2000,RupertMurdochmovedRebekahBrookstothe editor’schairatthe NewsoftheWorld.SheimmediatelyrecruitedCoulson
asherdeputy.Heworkedhardforher,setupanewinvestigations department,handledthedetailofstoriesforherandmadesurethe staffwerehappy. Hehadagoodreputationinthenewsroom.While Brookswasoffintheclouds,makingcontactsamongveryimportant people,Coulsonwouldturnupatthestaffparties,andsayhitopeople inthenewsroom.HerewardedhimselfwithaPorscheBoxsterwith atopspeedof165mphandapricetagof£35,000.Butpeoplebegan tonoticethatthemorepowerfulhebecame,themorenamesheforgot. Afterawhile,hewasreducedtocallingmostofthemen‘mate’and mostofthewomen‘sweetheart’.
Threeyearslater,inJanuary2003,RupertMurdochgaveBrooks the Sun toeditandmadeCoulsonbossatthe NewsoftheWorld .His newpositiongavehimpower, and hewashappytouseitagainst thosewhocrossedhim.Forexample,hedidn’tlikeRoyGreenslade, theformereditorofthe DailyMirror whohadbecomeaprofessor ofjournalismatCityUniversity,London.Sohewithdrewthefunding fortwostudentplaceswhichthe NewsoftheWorld hadbeensponsoring.TheheadoftheCityjournalismdepartment,AdrianMonck, hadadrinkwithCoulsonandsweet-talkedhimintorestoringthe funding.But,ashegotuptoleave,Coulsonadded:‘Onething,mate. IwantyoutogivemeRoy’sheadonaplate.’Monckrefused:City lostitsfunding.
Itwasnotsimplythathewashimselfcapableofbeingcold.More important,hewasrequiredtoberuthless.Fromhisproprietorandthe boardofNewsCorp3,500milesawayinNewYork,throughthechief executiveofNewsInternational,LesHinton,whosatinthesamebuilding inWapping,eastLondon,theunstatedmessagetohimandtoRebekah Brooks,editingthe Sun inthesamebuilding,andtoeveryothereditor ineveryotherpartoftheempirewasconstantandsimple:‘Getthestory –nomatterwhat.’
Thepreviousmonth,March2005,CoulsonhadbeentotheHilton Hoteltopickuphisbigaward,forNewspaperoftheYear.Afterwards, whenhewasinterviewedbythe PressGazette,hehadshruggedoffthe sneeringdisdainofoutsiderswhoseemedtothinkhiskindofjournalism wasnotreallyrespectable.
‘I’vegotnothingtobeashamedof,’hesaid.‘Andthisgoesforeveryone
