Ex-Daily Mail editor only has ‘vague memory’ of box containing £3m invoices to private investigators, court told
Former editor of the magazine Daily Mail He said he had only a “vague recollection” of the discovery of a box containing £3 million worth of invoices given to private detectives in the newspaper’s offices.
Paul Dacre, 77, told the Supreme Court he “really didn’t know” the details behind documents uncovered by a paralegal in the editor-in-chief’s office in October last year.
Asked about the notebooks the lawyers found, he said: “I know Baker McKenzie did a massive search for every document in this case. I have a vague memory of a box being found late in the day.”
Seven high-profile figures, including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and actress Elizabeth Hurley, are taking legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), claiming the broadcaster illegally obtained medical information, tapped landlines and hacked phones.
ANL emphatically denied the allegations and any wrongdoing, arguing that the plaintiffs filed the suit too late.
In his written statement to the court, Mr Dacre said: “I was shocked, appalled and – later in the night – enraged by the serious and sometimes implausible allegations made in these proceedings.”
He said phone hacking allegations made by Baroness Doreen Lawrence “particularly surprised and painfully wounded me personally” after the paper’s 15-year campaign for her son Stephen Lawrence, who was killed in a racist attack in 1993.
On the front page of the newspaper’s 14 February 1997 issue, the newspaper labeled five men – Gary Dobson, Neil Acourt, Jamie Acourt, Luke Knight and David Norris – as “murderers” and invited them to sue the newspaper for libel.
Taking the witness stand last week, Baroness Lawrence claimed: Daily Mail She was “pretending” to support him in getting justice, but he just wanted “the credibility of supporting a black family.”
His allegations relate to five articles published between 1997 and 2007; His lawyers claim he was “extensively targeted” by private detectives working on behalf of ANL.
Mr Dacre told the court at the start of his evidence on Tuesday: “My heart bleeds for Baroness Doreen Lawrence.”
In his written statement, he said it was “inconceivable” that anyone would be present at this incident. Daily Mail carried out the alleged activities.
“Of all my numerous campaigns during my 26 years as editor, many of which have made significant contributions to the public good, this is the one I am most proud of and to which I have devoted the most space.”
He also said it “defies logic.” Daily Mail He called for other newspapers to use illegal methods to see if they were joining the Lawrence campaign, later adding: “The claim that we are running the campaign to generate special headlines, sell newspapers and make a profit is sickeningly false and drearily cynical.”
Mr Dacre later said the allegations had had a “deeply distressing” and sometimes “traumatic” impact on staff at the paper, adding: “I have witnessed the suffering of honest, dedicated journalists who have had an insidious dark shadow hanging over their lives for three years.”
The former editor, who is now editor-in-chief of ANL’s holding company DMG Media, said journalists on Fleet Street had a “vague understanding” of data protection during this period and investigative agents were used by other newspapers, including the BBC.
He said: “In fact, I believe it is the fact that others are using these establishments that makes us believe that the services they provide must be above standard. If I thought there was something illegal or illicit going on then I would be outspoken in preventing it from happening.”
Mr Dacre said the Information Commissioner’s Office’s second report on privacy was a “huge wake-up call”, adding that he had previously been unaware of the extent to which journalists were using search agencies.
In conclusion, Daily Mail Journalists were “intimidated” with warnings, memos and letters to comply with data protection laws, and in April 2007 the use of investigative agents was banned altogether.
David Sherborne, representing a group of complainants, previously told the London court: Daily Mail And Mail on Sunday He had been engaged in illegal doxxing for “at least two decades” and “knew he had skeletons in his closets”.
He said: “There is evidence, indisputable evidence in the documents, that affiliated journalists and senior executives commissioned and approved the acquisition and use of illegally obtained information, and they must have known this.
“That’s why we say this is not a clean ship.”
The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin is planned to conclude in March, with a decision to be given in writing at a later date.
