Sara Payne 'devastated' at phone hacking claims

12 April 2012

The mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne was left "absolutely devastated" after being told she may have been targeted by a private investigator who hacked phones on behalf of the News of the World, a friend has said.

Sara Payne, who worked closely with the Sunday paper to campaign for tougher child protection laws, previously said she had not been told she was a victim of phone hacking.

But her friend Shy Keenan revealed that Scotland Yard this week told her that her contact details were found in notes compiled by private detective Glenn Mulcaire, who was jailed over phone hacking in January 2007.

Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, who became close friends with Ms Payne during the paper's campaign, said the latest allegations were "abhorrent".

It is believed that the evidence found in Mulcaire's files relates to a phone given to Ms Payne by the News of the World so she could contact her supporters, the Guardian reported.

Ms Brooks said in a statement: "For the benefit of the campaign for Sarah's Law, the News of the World have provided Sara with a mobile telephone for the last 11 years. It was not a personal gift.

"The idea that anyone on the newspaper knew that Sara or the campaign team were targeted by Mr Mulcaire is unthinkable. The idea of her being targeted is beyond my comprehension."

A source close to News of the World staff said that it was understood that Ms Payne's phone did not have voicemail until 18 months ago.

Ms Payne was "deeply disappointed" when the news was broken to her by officers from Operation Weeting - as the Metropolitan Police's phone hacking inquiry is known - her child welfare group, The Phoenix Chief Advocates, said.

Ms Payne, who became a tireless campaigner on child abuse issues after her eight-year-old daughter was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000, was today being comforted by her family.

The Phoenix Chief Advocates - run by Ms Payne, Ms Keenan and Fiona Crook - said in a statement: "Whilst it was previously confirmed by Operation Weeting that Sara Payne's name was not on private investigator Glenn Mulcaire's list, it has now been confirmed by the Operation Weeting that Sara's details are on his list.

"Sara is absolutely devastated by this news, we're all deeply disappointed and are just working to get her through it."

Ms Payne wrote a column for the final issue of the News of the World on July 10 after it was closed amid growing political and commercial pressure over the phone hacking scandal.

Describing the paper as "an old friend", she said it became a driving force behind her campaign for a "Sarah's law" to give parents the right to find out if people with access to their children are sex offenders.

News International, which owns the tabloid which was forced to close in the wake of the scandal, said it was taking the matter very seriously, was deeply concerned and would co-operate fully with any potential criminal inquiries.

The latest revelation, which comes following allegations the paper illegally accessed the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, 7/7 victims' relatives and grieving military families, will ratchet up the pressure on the publishing company and its embattled head James Murdoch.

Mr Murdoch has faced growing scrutiny about his governance in the wake of the scandal, but yesterday reports suggested he been unanimously backed by the board of BSkyB to remain in his role as chairman.

The broadcaster, which is partly-owned by News Corp, News International's parent company, is expected to formally announce its show of support today following lengthy discussions between directors yesterday.

The board meeting was the first since News Corp abandoned a takeover bid for BSkyB because of the hacking furore.

Meanwhile, the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee will be meeting today to discuss its next steps in its investigation of the scandal.
Last week members took evidence from Mr Murdoch, his father Rupert, and Ms Brooks, but may wish to ask fresh questions after Mr Murdoch's evidence was challenged by the News of the World's former editor, Colin Myler, and legal manager, Tom Crone.

The pair claimed he was aware of an email indicating that phone hacking at the paper was not confined to a single "rogue" reporter - something he denied during the hearing.

MP Tom Watson, who sits on the committee, told the BBC he would be asking members to recall Mr Murdoch, Mr Myler and Mr Crone to give more evidence.

John Whittingdale, the committee's chairman, said he will be writing to Mr Myler and Mr Crone - and also to James Murdoch - asking them to give further details.

He said that it was "not impossible" that Mr Murdoch could be recalled for further questioning.
As well as resulting in the closure of the paper, the hacking scandal has led to the resignations of Ms Brooks, two of Britain's most senior police officers and Les Hinton, one of Rupert Murdoch's most trusted lieutenants.

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