News Corp Chief Clashes with Labour MP
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November 10, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
James Murdoch has been scrutinised for a second time today over how much he knew about NoW’s phone hacking activities.
Mr Murdoch has repeatedly denied that he had any knowledge of phone hacking at the News of The World other than that carried out by Clive Goodman, who was jailed in 2007. However, those formerly close to the media mogul insist that he was shown the infamous “for Neville” email which contained transcripts of the voicemail of PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor and also suggested more widespread hacking.
“The nature of the so-called ‘For Neville’ email…any wider spread of evidence or suspicion of wider spread of wrongdoing-none of those things were mentioned to me,” said Mr Murdoch.
This evidence contradicts that given to MPs by ex News of the World legal manager Tom Crone in September. Mr Crone has said that he “did inform” Mr Murdoch of the email. In turn, the News Corp Chief accused former colleagues of giving “misleading evidence”.
The most dramatic moment of the hearing came when Labour MP Tom Watson suggested that Mr Murdoch’s testimony was purposefully false.
Mr Watson asked Mr Murdoch if he was familiar with the code of “omerta” where secretive organisations pursued their objectives with no regard for the law.
“Absolutely not” replied Mr Murdoch. “I frankly think that is offensive and that’s not true.”
“You must be the first mafia boss in history who didn’t know he was running a criminal enterprise,” charged Mr Watson.
Mr Murdoch also elaborated on what kind of actions could be taken if other News International newspapers were found to have conducted phone hacking.
“I shouldn’t rule any corporate reaction to behaviour of wrongdoing out. That will be a decision taken at the time.”
Such comments may be of particular relevance to concerns that The Sun may also have engaged in illegal gathering of information.
The Metropolitan Police estimate that over 6,000 people have had their phones hacked since 2002.
By Dermot Tobin
[Image courtesy of Ben Terrett]
