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Phone hacking 'rife' at Mirror Group Newspapers Phone hacking 'rife' at Mirror Group Newspapers
(35 minutes later)
Phone hacking was "rife" at Mirror Group Newspapers' three national titles from 1999 to 2006, a court has heard.Phone hacking was "rife" at Mirror Group Newspapers' three national titles from 1999 to 2006, a court has heard.
Claimants' counsel David Sherborne told London's High Court that journalists at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People hacked the phones of public figures on a daily basis.Claimants' counsel David Sherborne told London's High Court that journalists at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People hacked the phones of public figures on a daily basis.
Court documents say Mirror Group (MGN) has admitted obtaining 99 stories about the claimants by hacking their phones.Court documents say Mirror Group (MGN) has admitted obtaining 99 stories about the claimants by hacking their phones.
The court is considering the cases brought by eight high-profile figures.The court is considering the cases brought by eight high-profile figures.
They are TV executive Alan Yentob, soap stars Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin, TV producer Robert Ashworth, actress Sadie Frost, former footballer Paul Gascoigne and flight attendant Lauren Alcorn, who had a relationship with footballer Rio Ferdinand.They are TV executive Alan Yentob, soap stars Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin, TV producer Robert Ashworth, actress Sadie Frost, former footballer Paul Gascoigne and flight attendant Lauren Alcorn, who had a relationship with footballer Rio Ferdinand.
Mr Sherborne told the court these were "representative claims" aimed at establishing damages guidelines for subsequent cases against MGN.Mr Sherborne told the court these were "representative claims" aimed at establishing damages guidelines for subsequent cases against MGN.
In opening statements, he estimated that more than 2,000 calls were made to try to access voicemail messages in the case of Mr Yentob alone.In opening statements, he estimated that more than 2,000 calls were made to try to access voicemail messages in the case of Mr Yentob alone.
The court heard that one journalist hacked the phones of celebrities about 100 times a day between 2003 and 2004.The court heard that one journalist hacked the phones of celebrities about 100 times a day between 2003 and 2004.
'Valuable source'
Mr Sherborne said: "It is a reasonable inference that phone hacking was rife at all three of MGN's national titles at or around the same time, that is by mid-1999 at the latest."
Counsel said MGN had admitted that all eight claimants were the victims of voicemail interception and other unlawful methods of information gathering by journalists working for its papers.
MGN also admitted that a number of stories would not have appeared but for the voicemail interception.
Mr Sherborne said that the wrongdoing complained of was carried out intentionally for cynical commercial reasons.
"The fact that MGN continued its phone hacking at such levels and over the course of so many years more than evidences its utility as a valuable source of information, particularly for publishing stories in its three most popular newspaper titles," he said.
The court has to establish the extent of MGN's liability and set damages for the claimants. The case is expected to last two weeks.The court has to establish the extent of MGN's liability and set damages for the claimants. The case is expected to last two weeks.
The group has already settled a number of claims involving celebrity figures.The group has already settled a number of claims involving celebrity figures.