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Scottish prosecutors drop charges against two former NoW executives Scottish prosecutors drop charges against two former NoW executives
(about 1 hour later)
Scottish prosecutors have dropped charges of perverting the course of justice and perjury against two former executives at the News of the World in Scotland.Scottish prosecutors have dropped charges of perverting the course of justice and perjury against two former executives at the News of the World in Scotland.
The Crown Office disclosed on Tuesday night that it would no longer proceed against Bob Bird, formerly editor of the Scottish edition, and a former news editor Doug Wight, who were charged as part of a wide-ranging police inquiry into alleged hacking and illegal accessing of confidential data called Operation Rubicon.The Crown Office disclosed on Tuesday night that it would no longer proceed against Bob Bird, formerly editor of the Scottish edition, and a former news editor Doug Wight, who were charged as part of a wide-ranging police inquiry into alleged hacking and illegal accessing of confidential data called Operation Rubicon.
Bird, the news executive who oversaw the paper’s lengthy and controversial investigations into the infidelity and lies told by former Scottish Socialist party MSP Tommy Sheridan, was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in 2006.Bird, the news executive who oversaw the paper’s lengthy and controversial investigations into the infidelity and lies told by former Scottish Socialist party MSP Tommy Sheridan, was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in 2006.
Wight, a senior member of Bird’s editorial team who also worked at the paper’s London office as its books editor, was arrested under the same investigation and charged with perjury. He also initially faced charges of conspiracy to hack phones and breaches of data protection legislation.Wight, a senior member of Bird’s editorial team who also worked at the paper’s London office as its books editor, was arrested under the same investigation and charged with perjury. He also initially faced charges of conspiracy to hack phones and breaches of data protection legislation.
The two men were amongst four News International executives in Scotland arrested under Operation Rubicon, which was launched by Scottish prosecutors and police in the summer of 2011 after Rupert Murdoch closed down the News of the World.The two men were amongst four News International executives in Scotland arrested under Operation Rubicon, which was launched by Scottish prosecutors and police in the summer of 2011 after Rupert Murdoch closed down the News of the World.
Murdoch abruptly shut the title after it was revealed that NoW staff had accessed voicemail messages left on the mobile belonging to murdered school girl Millie Dowler while she was still missing. Murdoch abruptly shut the title after it was revealed that NoW staff had accessed voicemail messages left on the mobile belonging to murdered schoolgirl Millie Dowler while she was still missing.
The Crown Office, Scotland’s prosecution authority, told the Guardian: “The procurator fiscal received reports concerning Douglas Wight and Robert Bird, in connection with alleged offences between February 1995 and November 2010 and July 2006 respectively.The Crown Office, Scotland’s prosecution authority, told the Guardian: “The procurator fiscal received reports concerning Douglas Wight and Robert Bird, in connection with alleged offences between February 1995 and November 2010 and July 2006 respectively.
“After an extremely thorough investigation of these allegations, Crown counsel decided that no criminal proceedings be taken.”“After an extremely thorough investigation of these allegations, Crown counsel decided that no criminal proceedings be taken.”
Police Scotland has disclosed that 23 people in Scotland have been told their phones were hacked, thought to include the former first minister and Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell, as well as Joan McAlpine, a former Sunday Times executive and now Scottish National party MSP.Police Scotland has disclosed that 23 people in Scotland have been told their phones were hacked, thought to include the former first minister and Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell, as well as Joan McAlpine, a former Sunday Times executive and now Scottish National party MSP.
Sheridan’s name was listed as a potential hacking victim but no actual interception of his phone messages was proven.Sheridan’s name was listed as a potential hacking victim but no actual interception of his phone messages was proven.
Charges in connection with alleged offences in 2000 and 2001 against a third NI executive, Gill Smith, a news editor on the Scottish edition of the Sun, were dropped by the Crown Office on 1 May.Charges in connection with alleged offences in 2000 and 2001 against a third NI executive, Gill Smith, a news editor on the Scottish edition of the Sun, were dropped by the Crown Office on 1 May.
The trial for alleged perjury of a fourth former NoW executive, its former editor Andy Coulson, is continuing at the high court in Edinburgh.The trial for alleged perjury of a fourth former NoW executive, its former editor Andy Coulson, is continuing at the high court in Edinburgh.