British PM's former spin doctor found guilty in phone hacking scandal
- 10 years ago
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s former media chief Andy Coulson has been found guilty of being part of a phone hacking scandal that shocked Britain.
Journalists from the ‘News of the World’ weekly newspaper hacked celebrities’ mobile phone voice messages looking for exclusive stories when Coulson was its editor.
Political opponents have long questioned Cameron’s judgement in hiring Coulson.
In a statement, Cameron said he made a “full and frank” apology for hiring Coulson.
“I take full responsibility for employing Andy Coulson, I’m extremely sorry that I’ve employed him, it was the wrong decision and I’m very clear about it,” said the British prime minister.
Former newspaper boss Rebekah Brooks was found not guilty of being complicit in the hacking scandal and walked free from the London’s Old Bailey court.
Brooks and Coulson were former editors of Rupert Murdoch’s ‘News of the World’ which closed amid a public outcry over revelations that journalists had hacked into the voicemails on the mobile phone of a murdered schoolgirl.
The scandal shocked Britain’s political elite, with prime ministers from both main parties shown to have been close to Murdoch and his senior staff including Brooks.
Cameron ordered a public inquiry into press ethics in the immediate aftermath.
Journalists from the ‘News of the World’ weekly newspaper hacked celebrities’ mobile phone voice messages looking for exclusive stories when Coulson was its editor.
Political opponents have long questioned Cameron’s judgement in hiring Coulson.
In a statement, Cameron said he made a “full and frank” apology for hiring Coulson.
“I take full responsibility for employing Andy Coulson, I’m extremely sorry that I’ve employed him, it was the wrong decision and I’m very clear about it,” said the British prime minister.
Former newspaper boss Rebekah Brooks was found not guilty of being complicit in the hacking scandal and walked free from the London’s Old Bailey court.
Brooks and Coulson were former editors of Rupert Murdoch’s ‘News of the World’ which closed amid a public outcry over revelations that journalists had hacked into the voicemails on the mobile phone of a murdered schoolgirl.
The scandal shocked Britain’s political elite, with prime ministers from both main parties shown to have been close to Murdoch and his senior staff including Brooks.
Cameron ordered a public inquiry into press ethics in the immediate aftermath.