[HJCotW Spacemonkey]

Following on from Gaz's mention in the Gary Speed thread, I thought I'd just leave this here for you. It's a list of the people who have so far given evidence in the inquiry, and their written statements.

Some really eye-opening stuff in there. Charlotte Church's is shocking.

Enjoy.

MoT
HJCotW

[Gold Bismuth Shortt]

Been following it everyday, Paul McMullan is probably the most disgusting man I've ever heard off.

I now never ever want to read a gossip magazine/rag ever again, I would when bored but now I can't stomach it.

[Gaz]

It is absolutely riveting. Just to nick something off of my facebook page (which I nicked off of a guy on another forum), just the first week gave us:

Three suicides attributable to increased stress and disturbance caused by News International journalists (Watsons, Flitcroft, Mosely)
Parents falsely told that their murdered daughter was a bully and her killer was the victim (Watsons)
Perverting the course of justice, causing a family to believe that their dead daughter was still alive (Dowlers)
A woman forced into rehab and losing her career (Field)
Parents accused of killing or selling their daughter (McCanns)
Theft and publication of a grief diary (McCann)
Children terrified and their safety at school compromised (Rowling)
A woman forced to sell her house to get away from the paparazzi (Rowling)
Destruction of a marriage (Flitcroft)
A 21-year-old woman pursued by a mob of young men, some of whom spat on her to get a reaction (Miller)
A serious attempt to destroy a career (Grant, Coogan, Field)
Reactions (Daily Mail) which border on contempt/threats to back off and further increase the abuse (Grant)
A new mother chased and her mother driven at by a car (Grant's child's mother)
Assorted threats, blackmail and lies (all)

I'm just hoping that the result is the end of the PCC, some proper regulation (with real teeth so the papers can't just print whatever lies they like), and the cherry on the cake would be the downfall of the odious Paul Dacre who basically *is* the Daily Mail. There aren't many people I'd happily punch repeatedly in the face, but he's one of them.

[GJ Drought]

Not really been able to follow any of this, as i dont have the time of resourses at work, but from what ive read so far is unbelievable.

[HJCotW Spacemonkey]

I'd quite like everyone involved to be forced to print a full retraction of every lie they've ever made, in a similar size and layout to the original story, outlining who was at fault and why they had said what they did. That will never happen, of course.

MoT
HJCotW

[Joinee Varwell]

HJK's testimony is fascinating too - I feel for the celebrities caught up in this, but a little bit more so for the "ordinary" folk. Which, if you think about it, Leveson is helping us realise is exactly what celebrities are too.

Like Sean I really hope there are retractions aplenty, but would be delighted to see criminal convictions, the closure of the Daily Mail and the introduction of a proper press regulator. Well done to the government for introducing this inquiry (though morally they had little other choice) - no doubt there will be plenty more to come.

[Gaz]

Joinee Varwell, on 02 December 2011 - 09:09 AM, said:

Well done to the government for introducing this inquiry (though morally they had little other choice) - no doubt there will be plenty more to come.

I'll hold back on the applause until they implement the findings. I'm still concerned that Rupert will scupper it all at the last minute and the PCC will just change its name and that'll be it.

[Joinee Varwell]

Gaz, on 02 December 2011 - 09:39 AM, said:

I'll hold back on the applause until they implement the findings. I'm still concerned that Rupert will scupper it all at the last minute and the PCC will just change its name and that'll be it.

But surely if there was judicial recommendation for a stronger body, Murdoch would not be able to do it? Though then again it would have to go through Parliament and who knows what strings will be pulled from afar. Hopefully though the public will would be so strong on this.

Interesting times...

[Gaz]

OK, so the NotW may have deleted Milly Dowler's voicemails deliberately (my money is on this), or it may have been a consequence of them listening to the messages and then the messages auto-deleting. As far as I'm concerned, splitting hairs because it's still their fault. But that's not the staggering thing here. This is:

Quote

at 5.15pm on Tuesday, Mark Lewis – solicitor for the Dowler family – received a telephone call from a journalist on the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column who wanted to know if Bob and Sally Dowler would be giving the £3m settlement they received from Rupert Murdoch and News International back.

Just when you can't think the Mail can sink any lower.