Ex-Daily Mail editor claims obtaining ex-directory phone numbers was ‘low on Richter scale of unlawfulness’
Former editor of the magazine Daily Mail He claimed that it would be “very, very low on the Richter scale of unlawfulness” for journalists to obtain old directory phone numbers.
It’s one of several illegal information-gathering methods that Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) is alleged to have commissioned, but Paul Dacre claimed that obtaining phone numbers “might be in the public interest” if it was a way of offering someone a right of reply.
Taking questions from David Sherborne, who represents seven high-profile people suing ANL, Mr Dacre, now editor-in-chief of ANL’s holding company DMG Media, was asked whether he was aware that “investigative agents” were taking old directory numbers and providing them to their journalists. He said he didn’t know if it was legal, but if it were illegal it would be “low on the Richter scale.”
Mr Dacre, 77, also told the High Court he “closed the shutters” on the use of private detectives in April 2007 after it became “gradually aware” that private detectives might be using illegal methods.
Prince Harry, Elton John and Doreen Lawrence are among a group of seven high-profile people who have sued ANL, accusing it of obtaining medical records, hacking phones, tapping landlines and paying off police officers.
ANL denies wrongdoing and defends the allegations also made by David Furnish, Simon Hughes, Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost.
Referring to a 2007 article about the travel arrangements of the Duke of Sussex and his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, Mr Dacre said he did not know how journalist Rebecca English obtained Ms Davy’s flight details, which allegedly included her seat number.
Mr Dacre added that when he was a journalist “airlines were very relaxed” about giving out details and said he was “completely unaware” of the methods used by Ms English.
During a tense exchange, knowledge of a former man’s arrest was questioned mail on sunday Mr Dacre, a journalist on illegal information gathering, said the newspaper was “completely autonomous”. Daily Mail.
Mr Dacre, who said the late solicitor Eddie Young would keep him informed of any problems, accused Mr Sherborne of twisting his words and said: “You are very good at tarnishing the living, and even better at tarnishing the dead.”
Mr Dacre was also asked about a letter sent in August 2010 by a solicitor acting on behalf of Labor MP Clive Betts, alleging that his personal information had been unlawfully obtained for a period of time. Daily Mail story. He told the court he received “perhaps hundreds” of messages each year from “rich and powerful people” who said they would use lawyers to “suppress” the stories.
In his witness statement Mr Dacre said: “One thing I am sure of is that if I had been told that there was conclusive evidence that a journalist or an agent on their behalf had disclosed important private information that was not in the public interest then I would have been quite angry.”
During cross-examination on Tuesday, Mr Dacre told the court: “My heart bleeds for Baroness Doreen Lawrence” after accusing the newspaper of targeting him with covert electronic surveillance and tapping his landline. In his written statement, he said it was “inconceivable” that anyone would be present at this incident. Daily Mail He carried out such activities.
Mr Dacre also said: “Allegations of criminal behavior made on behalf of Baroness Doreen Lawrence Daily Mail‘s 15-year campaign for his murdered son Stephen particularly surprises and deeply hurts me personally.
“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 also said that he was personally involved in procuring one of the following articles used in Baroness Lawrence’s claim: “Exclusive: Straw orders a major investigation following the Daily Mail campaign. LAWRENCE: PUBLIC INQUIRY”.
“I vividly remember the then home secretary, Jack Straw, telling me the story himself,” he said. “The media had been expecting for about a month that a move by the home secretary would be announced soon. At one point Mr Straw summoned me to a meeting and volunteered the information that he was launching an investigation.” He added that he and Mr Straw were friends from Leeds University and that he gave the story. Daily Mail We took a look at the justice campaign.
Mr Sherborne asked Mr Dacre whether his involvement in the case was “driven by a desire to protect your legacy” rather than seeking a fair outcome. Mr Dacre said he wanted to clear his name but also valued the newspaper and the “honest and dedicated staff who work for this newspaper”.
In his written statement later, Mr Dacre said the “serious and sometimes implausible allegations” made in the case left me “surprised, appalled and – later in the night – driven to anger”.
