Former Daily Mail Editor Paul Dacre Denies Phone Hacking Allegations in High Court
Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail, has described phone hacking claims brought against the newspaper by Prince Harry and six other public figures as "preposterous" during his testimony at the High Court. The 77-year-old, who served as editor for 26 years, expressed being "astonished and appalled" by the allegations targeting the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday (TMOS). He stated emphatically, "I utterly refute those," launching a staunch defence of the publication and its journalists.
Dacre's Defence of Daily Mail's Integrity
As the first witness called on behalf of Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and TMOS, Mr Dacre emphasised his desire to clear the names of the newspaper and its staff. He told the court, "Clearly I wish to clear my name, but I'm much more concerned about the name of the Daily Mail and more pertinently the honest and dedicated staff who work for it." He described the allegations as casting an "insidious dark shadow" since the legal action began in 2022, sometimes reducing him to rage in the early hours.
In his witness statement, Mr Dacre praised the Daily Mail's "remarkable journalism" and "high professional standards," stating he was "immensely proud" of his tenure. He highlighted the paper's campaign for justice for Stephen Lawrence, a black London teenager murdered by racist thugs, as his proudest achievement. He expressed personal shock that Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Stephen's mother, is among the claimants accusing the Daily Mail of misconduct.
Emotional Response to Baroness Lawrence's Allegations
Mr Dacre told the court, "My heart bleeds for Baroness Doreen Lawrence, but these are allegations at the moment." He added that while all claims angered him, those from Baroness Lawrence were "especially bewildering and bitterly wounding to me personally." He defended the Lawrence campaign, saying it "simply defies reason" to suggest illegal methods were used to monitor other newspapers' involvement, and called accusations of profiteering "sickeningly misplaced and bleakly cynical."
Cross-Examination on Use of Private Investigators
During cross-examination by David Sherborne for the claimants, Mr Dacre faced questions about the Daily Mail and TMOS's use of "inquiry agents." When asked about over £3 million spent on private investigators, he acknowledged that Associated Newspapers accepted some information from agent Steve Whittamore might have breached data protection law. He explained journalists used such agents for quick access to addresses and phone numbers, noting a "hazy" understanding of emerging privacy laws at the time.
Mr Dacre pointed out that banks, councils, insurance companies, other newspapers, and the BBC also used similar agents. He stated he was unaware of the extent of newspaper use until a 2006 Information Commissioner's Office report, after which he banned their use in 2007. "No other newspaper did that, they carried on using those inquiry agencies. The BBC were using them until 2011," he added.
Denial of Misleading Leveson Inquiry
In his witness statement, Mr Dacre denied lying to the 2011 Leveson Inquiry into Press standards regarding inquiry agents, phone hacking, computer hacking, and payments to police. The trial continues as Associated Newspapers maintains its journalists relied on legitimate sources, with the Duke of Sussex, Baroness Lawrence, Sir Elton John, and four others alleging targeting by private investigators commissioned by journalists.
