Programme reports phone hacking and use of private detectives was widespread, but paper denies allegations

Guardian
Hannah Godfrey

BBCs Newsnight has revealed what it calls "the first chink in the armour" of news groups beyond the Murdoch empire. The programme reported on what it claims was widespread use of phone hacking and private detectives at the Sunday Mirror.

The primary source for the story, who Newsnight says worked at the paper for a number of years, reports witnessing "routine phone hacking in the newsroom".

The source recalls having seen Liz Hurleys phone being hacked, and a reporter noting down her voicemails: "It was a Thursday and I was told there was not much on there – just something about lunch with another woman so they would keep trying before the weekend."

The two other sources for the report say that the paper used private detectives, as well as phone hacking. The primary source goes further, claiming those techniques were routine, and that they were being used at the news desk, and by designated reporters, virtually every day.

The source said: "One reporter, who was very good at it, was called "the Master of Dark Arts". At one point in 2004, it seemed like it was the only way people were getting scoops. If they did not just randomly hack people in the news, they would use it to stand up stories that people had denied."

According to the former employee, the "dark arts" were used to try to beat the News of the World at its own game.

"Some of us were given a note of the standard pin codes and most of the hacking would involve two people. Two would call simultaneously from an office landline to make sure it was engaged so it would go straight onto answer machine and then you could access the messages." When hacking failed, reporters would allegedly turn to a private investigating company.

The programme also reports that the paper employed someone who would pretend to be someone else, in order to obtain information. One of their sources says they learned that an investigator the paper used obtained Lesley Ashs medical records using that type of subterfuge.

At the select committee hearing this week, Conservative MP Louise Mensch used parliamentary privilege to accuse Piers Morgan of hacking phones. Morgan was editor of the Mirror at the time Newsnights main source was at the paper.

Morgan has denied that vehemently.

Trinity Mirror, in response to the allegations made by Newsnight, said: "Our journalists work within the criminal law and the Press Complaints Commission code of conduct."

Mensch pointed out the statement was expressed in the present tense.