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Murdoch's News Group admits benefiting from hacking of army officer's emails Murdoch's News Group admits benefiting from hacking of army officer's emails
(35 minutes later)
Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the Sun and the now-closed News of the World, has apologised in court and agreed to pay damages to a former army intelligence officer whose computer and emails were hacked.Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the Sun and the now-closed News of the World, has apologised in court and agreed to pay damages to a former army intelligence officer whose computer and emails were hacked.
In a hearing at the high court on Friday, News Group admitted that a private investigations firm had hacked the computer of Ian Hurst and that its boss, Jonathan Rees, then sent intercepted information to the newspaper publisher. In a hearing at the high court on Friday, News Group admitted that a private investigations firm had hacked the computer of Ian Hurst and that its boss, Jonathan Rees, had then sent intercepted information to the newspaper publisher.
Lawyers for News Group said the company offered its “sincerest and unreserved apologies” to Hurst and his family and accepted “vicarious liability” for the hacking. News Group will pay “substantial” damages to Hurst and cover his legal costs.Lawyers for News Group said the company offered its “sincerest and unreserved apologies” to Hurst and his family and accepted “vicarious liability” for the hacking. News Group will pay “substantial” damages to Hurst and cover his legal costs.
Hurst used to serve in the Intelligence Corps and the Force Research Unit in Northern Ireland and his emails included correspondence with members of the Irish Republican movement, people within the security services, members of the Northern Ireland police and former members of the armed forces who had infiltrated the IRA. Hurst used to serve in the Intelligence Corps and the Force Research Unit in Northern Ireland and his emails included correspondence with members of the Irish republican movement, people in the security services, members of the Northern Ireland police and former members of the armed forces who had infiltrated the IRA.
His lawyer said in court that he was “increasingly shocked and appalled as he began to discover the extent of the unlawful activity against him” and “genuinely feared for the safety of many of the people with whom he had been in contact”. Hurst was also “furious” that personal correspodence and private family information had been compromised”. His lawyer said in court that he was “increasingly shocked and appalled as he began to discover the extent of the unlawful activity against him” and “genuinely feared for the safety of many of the people with whom he had been in contact”. Hurst was also “furious that personal correspondence and private family information had been compromised”.
Rees instructed Philip Smith, who was known for his expertise in computer hacking, to target Hurst. Smith inflitrated Hursts computer through spyware software called e-Blaster, which allowed him to monitor information and correspondence. The court heard that Rees instructed Philip Smith, who was known for his expertise in computer hacking, to target Hurst. Smith used spyware called e-Blaster to infiltrate Hurst’s computer and allow him to monitor information and correspondence.
Hurst was told by the Metropolitan Police that e-Blaster was operational on his computer from May 2006 to October 2006, but Smith also obtained some of his account passwords, meaning he could have been monitored for longer. Hurst was told by the Metropolitan police that e-Blaster was operational on his computer from May to October 2006, but Smith also obtained some of his account passwords, meaning he could have been monitored for longer, the court was told.
Hurst only found about the hacking when he was contacted by BBC Panorama, which was investigating the activities of Southern Investigations, the firm run by Rees. Hurst only found out about the hacking when he was contacted by BBC Panorama, which was investigating the activities of Southern Investigations, the firm run by Rees.
Anthony Hudson QC for News Group said: “News Group Newspapers accepts that such activity happened, accepts that it should never have happened, and has undertaken to the court that it will never happen again.” Anthony Hudson QC, for News Group, said: “News Group Newspapers accepts that such activity happened, accepts that it should never have happened, and has undertaken to the court that it will never happen again.”
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