Settlement reached in 15 more phone hacking cases

Birmingham Star Wednesday 8th February, 2012

LONDON - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp's British arm has reached out of court settlements with 15 more phone hacking victims including politicians, sportsmen and celebrities in the scam, the high court was informed Wednesday.

Last month, 37 legal claims were settled against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the British arm of News Corp and publishers of the now defunct Sunday tabloid.

Next week a civil trial is to be held to frame the general principles of compensation to the phone hacking victims if any of the claimants refuse to reach a settlement. The court was informed that among cases filed so far, Charlotte Church has so far not accepted a settlement. In the meanwhile five more compensation suits have been filed.

The 15 cases in which a settlement has been reached included those filed by Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes, politician George Galloway, former Labour communications director Alastair Campbell, sports agent Sky Andrew, Phil Hughes, an agent of late footballer George Best, and comedian Steve Coogan, the court was informed.

The phone hacking scam first came to light in 2006, when the then News of the World's royal correspondent Clive Goodman and private investigator Glen Mulcaire were jailed for illegally accessing the voicemails of the royal family and its staff.

Over the next four years further details of the phone hacking came to light. But the public ire came to the fore last year in July when it was revealed that the voice-mail of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, was hacked into by the News of the World.

The civil process started last year with hundreds filing claims. The settlements ranging from 40,000 pounds to 75,000 pounds are being negotiated ahead of the civil court trial.

A judge led inquiry into media ethics is in progress to frame better rules even as three criminal probes are underway.