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BBC News - Phone-hacking: The main players

14 July 2011 Last updated at 08:18 ET

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Phone-hacking: The main players

More than 4,000 people have been identified as potential victims of phone hacking at the News of the World. Claims have also been made that the Sunday Times used "blagging" techniques to access personal information relating to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Hacking scandal: Key figures

Name Job/position Connection to phone-hacking investigation
Rupert Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch

Chief exec, News Corporation

The NoW was part of Rupert Murdoch's News International newspaper group - itself the UK arm of the media mogul's News Corporation global empire. The 80-year-old Australian-American boss flew into the UK to take charge of dealing with the phone-hacking crisis. He will appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on 19 July.

Read full profile

Rebekah Brooks

Rebekah Brooks (nee Wade)

Former chief exec, News International

News International's former chief executive and former NoW editor. Scotland Yard is considering a criminal investigation after Mrs Brooks told a Commons committee in 2003 that journalists "had paid police for information in the past". She has since denied "knowledge of any specific cases". Mrs Brooks was the NoW editor when voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's mobile phone were allegedly intercepted. She will appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on 19 July

Read full profile

James Murdoch

James Murdoch

Chairman, News International

Rupert Murdoch's son James is News International's current chairman. He has reiterated the company is fully co-operating with police investigations and he was not, until recently, in the picture about the full extent of wrongdoing at the NoW. Announcing the closure of the Sunday tabloid, he said the allegations were "shocking and hugely regrettable". He will appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on 19 July

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Andy Coulson

Andy Coulson

NoW editor 2003-07

Andy Coulson, who was NoW editor between 2003-07, resigned his position following the convictions of ex-NoW royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking. He later became Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman but quit in January 2011 saying ongoing hacking claims were distracting him from his job. Mr Coulson was arrested in July 2011 and later bailed over phone hacking and corruption allegations.

Read full profile

Glenn Mulcaire

Glenn Mulcaire

Private investigator

Employed by the NoW, Glenn Mulcaire, 40, was jailed in January 2007 for phone hacking. He admitted unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages received by three royal aides. He was also convicted of hacking the phones of a number of other public figures, including publicist Max Clifford and actress Elle Macpherson. In July 2011, allegations emerged he had also hacked into murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's mobile phone and had the phone numbers of relatives of service personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Read full profile

Clive Goodman

Clive Goodman

Ex-NoW royal editor

The former NoW royal editor was jailed for four months in 2007 for phone hacking. He admitted unlawfully intercepting hundreds of telephone voicemail messages received by three members of staff at Buckingham Palace. The investigation was sparked after Prince William became suspicious about a November 2005 NoW story about a knee injury. In July 2011, Goodman, 53, was again arrested and released on bail on suspicion of corruption.

Read more

Other journalists

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Ian Edmondson

Ian Edmondson

Ex-NoW assistant editor (news)

The former NoW assistant editor was identified in court documents as having instructed private investigator Glenn Mulcaire to access phone messages. He was sacked from the paper after an internal inquiry had found "highly damaging evidence", a source said. He was arrested in April 2011 on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages, and was released on bail until September 2011.

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Neville Thurlbeck

Neville Thurlbeck

Ex-NoW chief reporter

Neville Thurlbeck, former chief reporter at the NoW, was named by Labour MP Tom Watson in January 2011 as one of three journalists who should be investigated. In 2009, police told MPs he had not been interviewed because there was no evidence linking him to the case. He was arrested in April 2011 on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages, and released on bail until September 2011.

Read more

James Weatherup. Copyright: Press Gazette

James Weatherup

Ex-NoW reporter

The former NoW reporter and news editor was arrested on 14 April on suspicion of conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications. He was released on bail until September 2011.

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Neil Wallis

Neil Wallis

Ex-NoW executive editor

Mr Wallis was arrested by police on 14 July on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications. His media consultancy company - Chamy Media - was used by the Met Police from October 2009 until September 2010

Read more

Sean Hoare

Sean Hoare

Ex-NoW reporter

The former NoW journalist has publicly admitted his part in phone hacking told the New York Times the practice of phone hacking was far more extensive than the newspaper acknowledged when police first investigated the case. He also told the BBC's Panorama it was "endemic" at the paper. Mr Hoare also said, as editor, Andy Coulson had asked him to hack phones. Mr Coulson has denied any knowledge of hacking.

Read more

Paul McMullan

Paul McMullan

Ex-NoW deputy features editor

The NoW deputy features editor between 1994 and 2001, Mr McMullan has spoken about the use of phone hacking on the paper, describing its investigations department as a "den of vipers".

Watch the interview

Alex Marunchak

Alex Marunchak

Ex-NoW Irish edition editor

The former NoW Irish edition editor obtained e-mails hacked into by a private detective in 2006, according to the BBC's Panorama. The messages belonged to an ex-British intelligence officer. Mr Marunchak denies receiving "any unlawfully obtained material".

Read more

Silhouette graphic

Laura Elston

Press Association news agency royal reporter

The 34-year-old royal reporter for the Press Association (PA) news agency was arrested in June as part of police investigations into hacking. She was arrested at a central London police station on suspicion of intercepting communications and later released on bail until early October. She has received the "full support" of her editors. PA editor Jonathan Grun said she was "a journalist of integrity".

Read more

Victims and potential victims: Ordinary people

Name

Job/status

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Milly Dowler

Milly Dowler

Murder victim

Milly Dowler, killed in 2002, was an alleged target of phone hacking. A lawyer for the Dowler family said the alleged hacking dated from a time when the NoW was under the editorship of Rebekah Brooks. The Dowlers have since called on Mrs Brooks to resign. Speaking through their solicitor, they said they thought she should "take responsibility and do the honourable thing".

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Clarence Mitchell

Clarence Mitchell

Spokesman for missing Madeleine McCann's family

Clarence Mitchell, the spokesman for missing Madeline McCann's parents, has said he believes two attempts were made to gain information about his phone. He is among a number of suspected hacking victims contacted by police.

Read more

Colin Stagg

Colin Stagg

Wrongly accused of murder

The lawyer acting for Colin Stagg, who won more than £700,000 in compensation after being wrongfully arrested over the Rachel Nickell murder, confirmed police had contacted him as part of the hacking investigation. Alex Tribick told the BBC police had told Mr Stagg his name had appeared in documentation associated with the police investigation.

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Graham Foulkes

Graham Foulkes

7/7 victim's father

Mr Foulkes is among the relatives of the 7 July 2005 London bombing victims warned by police their phones may have been hacked. Mr Foulkes, whose son David died in the Edgware Road blast, told the BBC his details had been found on a list.

Read more

Sean Cassidy

Sean Cassidy

7/7 victim's father

Mr Cassidy, who lost his 22-year-old son, Ciaran, in the Russell Square bomb on 7 July 2005 , has also been contacted by police after his details were found on a list.

Read more

Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman

Parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman

Family of Soham murder victims

The parents of murdered Soham girls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman are among those contacted by police investigating phone hacking. It is believed the families were warned there was evidence to suggest they were targeted by Glenn Mulcaire.

Read more

British troops in Afghanistan

Families of service personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq

N/A

Glenn Mulcaire is also alleged to have had the phone numbers of bereaved military families in his files.

Read more

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Brendan Montague

Freelance journalist

The freelance journalist, along with former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, Labour MP Chris Bryant and ex-Scotland Yard commander Brian Paddick, won a High Court bid for a judicial review into the original police inquiry into hacking. All believe their phones were hacked by the NoW and the police handling of their cases breached their human rights.

Read more

Victims and potential victims: Celebrities and staff

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller

Actress

The actress formally settled for £100,000 damages and costs, after the paper admitted liability over the hacking of several of her phones. News Group formally apologised at London's High Court for what it called the "harassment and distress" it had caused.

Read more

Paul Gascoigne

Paul Gascoigne

Ex-footballer

The former England player is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year. The civil damages claims against News Group Newspapers will be assessed in January 2012. The other test cases concern actor interior designer Kelly Hoppen, sports agent Sky Andrew, actor Jude Law and MP Chris Bryant.

Read more

Jude Law

Jude Law

Actor

The actor is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.

Read more

Elle Macpherson

Elle Macpherson

Model

The supermodel was one of the celebrities named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. The court head when she suspected messages were being listened to, she had been so afraid she had had her home swept for bugs.

Read more

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs

Footballer

The Manchester United player has launched legal proceedings against the NoW and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. He is suing the paper's publisher News Group Newspapers for breach of privacy.

Read more

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan

Actor and comedian

The Alan Partridge comedian is among those to take legal action against the NoW for breach of privacy after the Metropolitan Police confirmed his personal details had been in the possession of Glenn Mulcaire following a raid on his house. He told BBC2's Newsnight the closure of the paper was a "victory for decency and humanity".

Watch the interview

Chris Tarrant

Chris Tarrant

TV presenter

Chris Tarrant in one of a number of celebrities who have taken legal action against the NoW over phone hacking. The Metropolitan Police confirmed last year his personal details had been in the possession of Glenn Mulcaire.

Read more

Andy Gray

Andy Gray

Television presenter

The football pundit accepted £20,000 in damages from the NoW in June this year after his phone was hacked. The former Everton striker reached an agreement with News Group Newspapers for compensation, plus undisclosed costs, for voicemail interceptions.

Read more

Leslie Ash and Lee Chapman

Leslie Ash and Lee Chapman

Actress/ex-footballer

The actress and her husband launched legal action over claims Ms Ash's phone had been hacked. Police confirmed her details had been among paperwork belonging to Glenn Mulcaire.

Read more

Max Clifford

Max Clifford

Publicist

The celebrity publicist was named in the original indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. He later sued the NoW for breach of privacy and received a settlement worth a reported £1m. Most recently, he has defended News International chief Rebekah Brooks, saying he does not believe she was involved.

Listen to Max Clifford defend Rebekah Brooks

Silhouette graphic

Nicola Phillips

Assistant to Max Clifford

The publicist issued proceedings against the NoW for breach of privacy. She rejected an early offer from the paper.

Read more

Sky Andrew

Sky Andrew

Sports agent

The sports agent's is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.

Read more

Kelly Hoppen

Kelly Hoppen

Interior designer

Kelly Hoppen's - actress Sienna Miller's stepmother - is one of four test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.

Read more

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney

Footballer

The England and Manchester United player was contacted in April by police investigating hacking. Mr Rooney wrote on Twitter: "Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents. Looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone."

Read more

Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant

Actor

The actor, who has been told by police his details are among those found by officers investigating hacking at the NoW, recorded a conversation between himself and Paul McMullan, the tabloid's former features editor. During the exchange - revealed by Mr Grant in the New Statesman magazine - Mr McMullan discussed hacking by the media.

Read the full New Statesman article

Victims and potential victims: Public figures and staff

Names

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall

Members of the Royal Family

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall may have also been targets of phone hacking conducted at the NoW, according to the Guardian newspaper. It has also been alleged police officers in the Royal Protection Squad were being paid by the NoW for private information

about the Royal Family.

Read more

John Prescott

Lord Prescott

Ex-deputy prime minister

The former deputy prime minister is one of four high-profile figures seeking judicial review over the Met Police's handling of the original hacking inquiry. Lord Prescott, Labour MP Chris Bryant, ex-Scotland Yard boss Brian Paddick and journalist Brendan Montague all claim their human rights were breached because officers failed to carry out an effective investigation.

Read more

Bryan Paddick

Brian Paddick

Ex-Met Police deputy assistant commissioner

The Scotland Yard boss is one of four high-profile figures seeking judicial review over the Met Police's handling of the original hacking inquiry.

Read more

Chris Bryant

Chris Bryant

Ex-Labour minister

The ex-Labour minister is one of four high-profile figures seeking judicial review over the Met Police's handling of the original hacking inquiry. Mr Bryant's is also one of four selected test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims due to be heard at the High Court next year.

Read more

Gordon Taylor

Gordon Taylor

Professional Football Association's chief exec

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive brought a private case against the NoW in 2008, and received settlement worth a reported £700,000.

Read more

Kieren Fallon

Kieren Fallon

Jockey

The sportsman launched legal action against the NoW after police confirmed his personal details had been in the possession of Glenn Mulcaire.

Read more

George Galloway

George Galloway

Former MP

The former Respect MP for Bethnal Green in London has launched legal proceedings against the NoW for breach of privacy, claiming his voicemail was illegally intercepted between Feb 2005 and Aug 2006. In January he told the BBC he had been offered "substantial sums of money" by the paper. The NoW refused to comment.

Listen to George Galloway discuss the issue

Tessa Jowell

Tessa Jowell

Former culture secretary

The former Labour minister has said she believes her phone was hacked 28 times. The BBC understands she is one of the main claimants offered a settlement by News International.

Read more

David Mills

David Mills

Lawyer and estranged husband of Tessa Jowell

The lawyer is one of the main claimants who has been offered a settlement by News International.

Read more

Simon Hughes

Simon Hughes

Lib Dem deputy leader

The Lib Dem deputy leader was named as a hacking victim in the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire.

Watch Mr Hughes talk about the hacking

Michael Mansfield

Michael Mansfield

Barrister

The QC, who represented Mohamed Al Fayed at the Princess Diana inquest, has been told by police his phone may have been hacked.

Read more

Silhouette graphic

Helen Asprey

Royal aide

The former aide to the Prince of Wales was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. The court heard how she, along with Prince Charles's communication secretary Paddy Harverson and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, realised something was wrong in December 2005 when their new messages were being shown as old.

Read more

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton

Royal secretary

The private secretary to Princes William and Harry was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire.

Read more

Silhouette graphic

Paddy Harverson

Royal communications secretary

The Prince of Wales's communication secretary Paddy Harverson was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire.

Read more

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Joan Hammell

Former aide to Lord Prescott

The BBC understands the former aide to ex-Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott is one of the main claimants offered a settlement by News International.

Read more

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Jo Armstrong

Professional Football Association legal adviser

The legal adviser made an out-of-court settlement with News International for breach of privacy.

Read more

Alleged 'blagging' victims

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown

Former prime minister

Mr Brown has accused The Sunday Times of gaining access to his personal bank and legal files when he was chancellor using so-called "blagging" techniques. News International is investigating. Mr Brown also said he did not know how the Sun newspaper obtained access to medical records relating to his son Fraser's cystic fibrosis in 2006. The Sun maintains the information was not obtained by illegal means.

Watch the ex-PM react to the claims

Police officers involved in hacking inquiry

Name

Job/position

Connection to phone-hacking investigation

Asst Commissioner John Yates

John Yates

Met Police Assistant Commissioner

Assistant Commissioner Yates ruled out a further inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal in 2009. He has since expressed "extreme regret" for not reopening the investigation. Two MPs have called for him to resign.

Read more

Sue Akers

Sue Akers

Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner

The current police hacking investigation, called Operation Weeting, is being led by Sue Akers.

Under her lead, detectives are contacting nearly 4,000 people whose personal details were stored by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

Read more

Andy Hayman

Andy Hayman

Former Met Police Assistant Commissioner

Andy Hayman was involved in the original hacking inquiry. MPs have criticised his handling of the investigation. He denies there has been anything "improper" about his decision to write columns for News International after he retired from the Met.

Read more

Peter Clarke

Peter Clarke

Former Met Police Assistant Commissioner

Peter Clarke worked alongside Andy Hayman on the original police investigation, which has been widely criticised.

Read more

Do you have a question on the events & potential implications surrounding the phone hacking scandal? If so, e-mail your question to us using the form below & our correspondents will answer a selection, which will be published on the BBC News website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12296392

Posted via email from Whistleblower

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