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Mirror phone hacking: air hostess breaks down in tears Mirror phone hacking 'destroyed' Lucy Benjamin's career
(about 3 hours later)
The former girlfriend of footballer Rio Ferdinand has broken down in tears as she described the impact phone hacking by Mirror Group journalists had on her. Actor Steve McFadden has described how articles published in the Mirror destroyed the career of his former girlfriend and co-star Lucy Benjamin.
The hearing at the High Court in London is considering cases brought by eight high-profile figures. Mr McFadden told the court that she had been left "sobbing inconsolably in the foetal position" by one story in 2002.
Lauren Alcorn, who is an air hostess, had a relationship with the QPR, and former Manchester United and England star, for several years from 2002. The actor, who plays Phil Mitchell in EastEnders, had a relationship with his co-star from 1999-2003.
She said "I'm a very private person, I never wanted to be in the public eye." Earlier, Premiership footballer Rio Ferdinand's ex-girlfriend broke down in tears during the High Court hearing.
Ms Alcorn told the hearing her voicemail had "such private and personal things like the death of my father. Air hostess Lauren Alcorn had a relationship with Mr Ferdinand, the QPR, and former Manchester United and England star, for several years from 2002.
"To know that all of that was listened to is really upsetting". Mr McFadden was called as a witness at the hearing, which will establish damages against Mirror Group for eight claimants of which his former partner, now Lucy Taggart, is one.
Mirror Group has acknowledged that it published three stories that appeared in the Sunday Mirror in 2003 as a result of hacking Ms Alcorn's voicemail. The actor said the couple had hoped to marry, and he was very close to proposing, "but the biggest factor that stopped me was thinking that Lucy had a big mouth and was giving out information".
He said: "All the articles in the Mirror's newspapers that were constantly being published about us made me suspect Lucy.
"I thought she was shouting her mouth off. Now of course I know it was nothing like this and it was the Mirror's journalists stealing information from our phones.
"Apart from our relationship, the Mirror articles also had a really profound effect on Lucy's career and how she felt as a person."
He said she believed they were responsible "for putting her out of work and making her unemployable, and I think she was right".
Referring to tabloid journalists, Mr McFadden told the court that he believed that "the end game is to get somebody the sack".
Mirror Group has admitted publishing 17 articles about Ms Taggart between 2000 and 2006 as a result of phone hacking.
'Naive and vulnerable'
Ms Alcorn, who is on maternity leave from Virgin Airways said she was "completely shocked and disgusted" by the activity at Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
She said: "My relationship with Rio was on and off for several years until about 2006.
"During this time, Rio also had a relationship with his now wife, who is also the mother of his children.
"Looking back on it now with the benefit of hindsight, that period represents a time in my life that I regret and am very embarrassed about.
"However, I was a young, naive and emotionally vulnerable 19-year-old who got wrapped up with a young man that I thought had feelings for me and vice versa.
"I'm a very private person and I never never wanted to be in the public eye - even walking into court today is my worst nightmare."
Drug test
Ms Alcorn said she had been quizzed about being with Ferdinand the day before he missed a drugs test in 2003.
"It was even suggested I was a bad influence and I was the reason he missed the test.
I felt completely hounded and bombarded by the questioning from complete strangers."
Ms Alcorn said her voicemail also had "such private and personal things like the death of my father."
She said: "To know that all of that was listened to is really upsetting."
MGN has acknowledged that it published three stories that appeared in the Sunday Mirror in 2003 as a result of hacking Ms Alcorn's voicemail.
'No sincerity''No sincerity'
Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) last month published an apology for phone hacking, saying the practice was "unlawful, unacceptable and wrong". MGN last month published an apology for phone hacking, saying the practice was "unlawful, unacceptable and wrong".
Asked about the apology, Ms Alcorn said: "It felt like it had no sincerity whatsoever. I wanted to rip it up and throw it in the bin".Asked about the apology, Ms Alcorn said: "It felt like it had no sincerity whatsoever. I wanted to rip it up and throw it in the bin".
BBC creative director Alan Yentob has said he felt "violated on a truly massive scale" by journalists who hacked his phone, while the former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati said her son was bullied at school because of stories MGN published.BBC creative director Alan Yentob has said he felt "violated on a truly massive scale" by journalists who hacked his phone, while the former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati said her son was bullied at school because of stories MGN published.
Cases from soap stars Shane Richie and Lucy Benjamin, actress Sadie Frost, former footballer Paul Gascoigne and TV producer Robert Ashworth, former husband of Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw, are also being considered. Cases from soap star Shane Richie, actress Sadie Frost, former footballer Paul Gascoigne and TV producer Robert Ashworth, former husband of Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw, are also being considered.
The case continues.The case continues.