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Telephone calls to the Sun editor Rebekah Wade were among those illegally tapped by private investigators working for the News of the World, it was claimed today.
Ms Wade - recently promoted to be chief executive of News International - was one of 75 individuals identified by police as having their phone messages monitored by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who was working with royal reporter Clive Goodman.
The allegation was revealed by the BBC's Robert Peston. He claims police informed Ms Wade that she was on Mulcaire's list of public figures whose mobile-phone voicemails were being tracked and was asked whether she wanted to press charges. She declined.
The revelation will be embarrassing for Andy Coulson, who was then editor of the News of the World and is now the director of communications for the Conservative Party.
He denies that he knew that Mr Goodman was hacking into the mobiles of celebrities, politicians and others.
Telephone calls from Sir Alex Ferguson and Alan Shearer were among others bugged, it was claimed today.
Public figures whose phones are alleged to have been hacked are considering suing the News of the World.
The Guardian has claimed that the tabloid has already paid £1million to settle legal cases that threatened to reveal the methods used to get stories.
Scotland Yard assistant commissioner John Yates said last night that police had seen no new evidence since its last investigation, which ended with the jailing of Goodman in 2007 for tapping the phones of the royals, and ruled out a further inquiry.
Crown prosecutors are carrying out an "urgent" review of evidence presented in the Goodman inquiry. Keir Starmer QC, director of public prosecutions, said he wanted to reassure himself and the public that "appropriate actions" were taken over material provided by the police three years ago.
Reader views (7)
Why has david Cameron gone and allied himself to such a crooked hacker and ctiminsl? It doesn't say much for his powers of judgement, does it?
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Is there something actually NEW in the allegations. Sure the politicans and Press can perform but 'is there something new' that the Guardian etc have discovered
- Gordonbay, London and Cape Town
Hey folks, cool down, dirt-digging on a myriad levels is the way of world - be it the press or politicians, and has been since forever. And to have "desk-top" Prescott stamping his feet with phoney indignation is an absolute gas.
- Ted, London
Suprise! Suprise! Rebakah Wade declined to press charges against her boss Rupert Murdoch. Why on earth would she? He has just promoted her, plus she was also up to her neck in phone tapping. Its time Murdoch's empire was investigated thoroughly. Hopefully the useless Offcom will get off their backsides and do their job properly. After all he hasn't been nicknamed 'the dirty digger' for nothing.
- James, Manchester England
Looks like the NoW is going to have to pay out such a lot of money, it might even close down. We hope.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
Let's hope that the News of the World gets sued out of business. Those involved need to face serious charges. It's an absolute disgrace.
- Alan, London
The ES seems clear that these people had their phones tapped and bugged. I was under the impression that the PIN numbers were divulged and it was simply their voicemail messages that had been accessed. Perhaps someone could clarify? If their phone lines have been tapped and bugged, this is a far more serious allegation and is surely worth of it's own story.
- Carl, London
