Ex-Mail on Sunday Editor Denies Misleading Leveson Inquiry in High Court
Peter Wright, the former editor of the Mail on Sunday, has firmly denied allegations that he misled the Leveson inquiry into press standards regarding the newspaper's involvement with corrupt private investigators. Appearing at the high court, Wright, who edited the Sunday publication from 1998 to 2012, dismissed some claims as "just incredible," including accusations of landline tapping and bugging.
Claims Against Associated Newspapers
Prince Harry is among seven claimants accusing Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, of writing stories based on unlawful information gathering. The allegations range from using private investigators to obtain ex-directory phone numbers to bugging windowsills. ANL has denied all claims, describing them as both lurid and preposterous.
Confrontation Over Leveson Evidence
Wright was confronted over evidence he gave to the Leveson inquiry in 2012, which focused on the Mail on Sunday's relationship with Steve Whittamore, a private investigator convicted in 2005 and given a conditional discharge. David Sherborne, the lead barrister for the claimants, pointed to Wright's Leveson claim that financial records of Whittamore's work did not include details of his activities.
Sherborne presented invoices that appeared to list activities such as finding car registration numbers and ex-directory phone numbers, with one referencing a "blag"—often involving obtaining information by deception. However, Wright stated that during the Leveson inquiry, he had relayed information from a managing editor without seeing the records himself. He added that the detailed invoices were separate from payment records and he only became aware of them recently.
Allegations of False Impressions
Sherborne accused Wright of "deliberately giving the inquiry a false impression" that invoices revealed little. Wright replied, "I have only seen these [invoice] sheets, most of them, in the run-up to this trial." He also noted that by early 2004, he had become "particularly worried" about Whittamore's use, leading to an order nearly banning his employment by Mail on Sunday journalists.
Written Submissions and Witness Statements
In written submissions, Wright asserted that, to his knowledge, the paper did not "carry out or commission, or knowingly use information derived from phone hacking, landline phone tapping, bugging vehicles or using sticky window mini-microphones, computer or email hacking as alleged in these claims." He highlighted that many serious claims rely on a witness statement by private investigator Gavin Burrows, who has since disowned the document and alleged his signature was forged.
Wright further explained that stories about celebrities and royals often originated from their "hangers-on" who were known to brief journalists, suggesting alternative sources for the information.
Judicial Concerns and Case Continuation
Mr Justice Nicklin, the presiding judge, questioned the relevance of allegations that several ANL figures misled the Leveson inquiry. He expressed concern that while accusations were being made in open court, he might not rule on them, potentially being unfair to those accused. The case continues as legal proceedings unfold.
