Phone hacking: Trinity Mirror apologises to victims

 
Damages: Cilla Black has settled her hacking claim, while soap star Shobna Gulati, right, is among others whose cases will be heard next month (Picture: Matt Crossick/Empics Entertainment)
Justin Davenport13 February 2015

The Daily Mirror today issued a public apology to victims of phone hacking and admitted that civil claims will cost the newspaper company millions more than first thought.

The owner of the group’s titles printed its first ever open apology in today’s edition, admitting that voicemails which had been left on “certain people’s phones were unlawfully accessed”.

Trinity Mirror said information obtained by the practice had been used in stories in its national papers and such behaviour represented “an unwarranted and unacceptable intrusion into people’s private lives”.

The company also said the cost of resolving phone hacking claims will be “higher than previously envisaged” and it was increasing the provision for claims by £8 million to £12 million.

It has refused to reveal the number of its hacking victims but the High Court has heard that at least 10 have settled claims for “substantial” damages.

Singer Cilla Black was among the latest group of celebrities to accept settlements last month.

Eight representative cases, none settled, are due to be heard at the High Court on March 2. Those concerned include Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati, ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne, TV executive Alan Yentob and actress Sadie Frost.

Today’s Daily Mirror apology read: “Some years ago voicemails left on certain people’s phones were unlawfully accessed. And in many cases the information obtained was used in stories in our national newspapers.” The firm said this was “unlawful and should never have happened”.

It added: “Such behaviour has long since been banished from Trinity Mirror’s business and we are committed to ensuring it will not happen again.”

The publisher said it was taking this opportunity to give “every victim a sincere and unreserved apology” and went on: “We recognise that our actions will have caused them distress for which we are truly sorry.”

Mirror Group, a subsidiary of Trinity Mirror, admitted phone hacking for the first time in September last year.

Its papers first became embroiled in the hacking scandal in March 2013, when detectives from Operation Weeting arrested four journalists.

Other senior former journalists on the Daily Mirror, including ex-editor Piers Morgan, have been interviewed under caution in the ongoing Operation Golding police inquiry.

About nine ex-Mirror journalists and executives are facing possible prosecution, while two former journalists on the Sunday Mirror have already admitted phone hacking.

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