This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-15812762

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Leveson Inquiry: Hacked Dowlers thought Milly was alive Leveson Inquiry: Grant suspicions on Mail on Sunday 'hacking'
(40 minutes later)
The mother of murdered Milly Dowler has told the Leveson Inquiry she did not sleep for three days after discovering her daughter's phone was hacked. Hugh Grant has suggested to the Leveson Inquiry that the Mail on Sunday hacked into voicemail messages on his phone.
Sally Dowler said the hacking by a private detective had given the couple false hope over their missing daughter. The actor said he could not think of any other way it could have got its story in 2007 about his conversations with a "plummy voiced" woman.
Earlier, the mother of murdered girl Milly Dowler said she did not sleep for three days after discovering that her daughter's phone was hacked.
Sally Dowler said the hacking had given the couple false hope.
Grant's suggestion that the Mail on Sunday may have hacked his phone is the first time he has linked a newspaper not owned by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch to the practice.
He also said one paper in 1995 described the inside of his London flat - shortly after it had been broken into.
"The front door had been shoved off its hinges. Nothing had been stolen, which was weird," he said.
'Press storm'
"Shortly after that, a detailed account of what the interior of my flat looked like appeared in one of the papers. I remember thinking who told them that?
"Was that the burglar, or was that the police?"
The incident happened around the time of his arrest in Los Angeles with a prostitute, and the "press storm" that followed it.
Describing the moment she accessed the previously-full voicemail, she said: "I just jumped and said: 'She's picked up her voicemails... she's alive'."Describing the moment she accessed the previously-full voicemail, she said: "I just jumped and said: 'She's picked up her voicemails... she's alive'."
Actor Hugh Grant later accused the Mail on Sunday of hacking his phone.
Mrs Dowler and her husband Bob were the first witnesses to give evidence.Mrs Dowler and her husband Bob were the first witnesses to give evidence.
'Really cross''Really cross'
She said they had called the 13-year-old's phone repeatedly in the weeks after she went missing, but the voicemail had become full.She said they had called the 13-year-old's phone repeatedly in the weeks after she went missing, but the voicemail had become full.
Mrs Dowler said when she could access it again after the detective working for the News of the World (NoW) had hacked the phone number and deleted some messages, "I told my friends, 'she's picked up her voicemail, she's picked up her voicemail'."Mrs Dowler said when she could access it again after the detective working for the News of the World (NoW) had hacked the phone number and deleted some messages, "I told my friends, 'she's picked up her voicemail, she's picked up her voicemail'."
You could hear it in her voice, you could see it in her face. Nine years on, Sally Dowler re-lived the euphoric moment when she told her husband Bob that she thought their missing daughter, Milly, might not be dead. "She's picked up her voicemails Bob. She's alive".You could hear it in her voice, you could see it in her face. Nine years on, Sally Dowler re-lived the euphoric moment when she told her husband Bob that she thought their missing daughter, Milly, might not be dead. "She's picked up her voicemails Bob. She's alive".
Eight devastating words to haunt News International. Their paper, the News of the World, had been hacking Milly's phone, deleting messages and giving her distraught parents false hope.Eight devastating words to haunt News International. Their paper, the News of the World, had been hacking Milly's phone, deleting messages and giving her distraught parents false hope.
The Dowlers also spoke about the "double-edged sword" nature of their relationship with the media. They needed the publicity to help find their abducted daughter. They had to put up with reporters intruding so much that they dreaded opening their front door.The Dowlers also spoke about the "double-edged sword" nature of their relationship with the media. They needed the publicity to help find their abducted daughter. They had to put up with reporters intruding so much that they dreaded opening their front door.
This is going to be a tough week for the popular press.This is going to be a tough week for the popular press.
  • Read more from Peter
  • href="http://twitter.com/#!/BBCPeterHunt" >Follow tweets by @BBCPeterHunt during the inquiry
She added: "When we heard about the hacking that was the first thing I thought."She added: "When we heard about the hacking that was the first thing I thought."
It was nine years later during the trial of their daughter's killer that they were told by police her phone had been hacked.It was nine years later during the trial of their daughter's killer that they were told by police her phone had been hacked.
Mrs Dowler said: "As soon as I was told it was about phone hacking, literally I didn't sleep for about three nights because you replay everything in your mind and just think, 'oh, that makes sense now, that makes sense'."Mrs Dowler said: "As soon as I was told it was about phone hacking, literally I didn't sleep for about three nights because you replay everything in your mind and just think, 'oh, that makes sense now, that makes sense'."
The couple also described how they were secretly photographed as they privately reconstructed Milly's last walk, seven weeks after she disappeared.The couple also described how they were secretly photographed as they privately reconstructed Milly's last walk, seven weeks after she disappeared.
Mrs Dowler said: "We put out missing leaflets and a telephone number. That number had changed and I was checking to see if the right poster was up and I was touching the posters to see if they were the right ones.Mrs Dowler said: "We put out missing leaflets and a telephone number. That number had changed and I was checking to see if the right poster was up and I was touching the posters to see if they were the right ones.
"That Sunday, that photo appeared in the News of the World. I remember seeing it and I was really cross. They had obviously taken the photo with some sort of telephoto lens. How on earth did they know we were doing the walk on that day?"That Sunday, that photo appeared in the News of the World. I remember seeing it and I was really cross. They had obviously taken the photo with some sort of telephoto lens. How on earth did they know we were doing the walk on that day?
"It felt like such an intrusion into a really, really private grief moment.""It felt like such an intrusion into a really, really private grief moment."
Mr Dowler was asked what he would say to NoW publisher News International.Mr Dowler was asked what he would say to NoW publisher News International.
He told the inquiry: "We would sincerely hope that News International and other media organisations would look very carefully how they procure, how they obtain information about stories.He told the inquiry: "We would sincerely hope that News International and other media organisations would look very carefully how they procure, how they obtain information about stories.
"Obviously, the ramifications are far greater than what appears in the press.""Obviously, the ramifications are far greater than what appears in the press."
Later, Hugh Grant, who has spoken out against media intrusion into his private life, gave evidence to the inquiry.
He said one paper in 1995 described the inside of his London flat - shortly after it had been broken into.
"The front door had been shoved off its hinges. Nothing had been stolen, which was weird," he said.
'Press storm'
"Shortly after that, a detailed account of what the interior of my flat looked like appeared in one of the papers. I remember thinking who told them that?
"Was that the burglar, or was that the police?"
The incident happened around the time of his arrest in Los Angeles for lewd conduct, and the "press storm" that followed it.
The inquiry also heard from lawyer Graham Shear, who represents celebrities that have had their phones hacked and who is also a victim himself of the illegal practice, and from writer Joan Smith, whose phone was allegedly hacked because of her relationship with MP Denis MacShane.The inquiry also heard from lawyer Graham Shear, who represents celebrities that have had their phones hacked and who is also a victim himself of the illegal practice, and from writer Joan Smith, whose phone was allegedly hacked because of her relationship with MP Denis MacShane.
In the coming weeks, the families of crime victims, journalists and lawyers are among the other witnesses expected to describe their experiences of media intrusion.In the coming weeks, the families of crime victims, journalists and lawyers are among the other witnesses expected to describe their experiences of media intrusion.
Prime Minister David Cameron set up the inquiry before Lord Justice Leveson in July in response to revelations that the NoW hacked Milly's phone.Prime Minister David Cameron set up the inquiry before Lord Justice Leveson in July in response to revelations that the NoW hacked Milly's phone.
Grant is expected to tell the inquiry how paparazzi have hounded the mother of his baby daughter, who earlier this month gained a High Court injunction prohibiting media harassment of her and her child.Grant is expected to tell the inquiry how paparazzi have hounded the mother of his baby daughter, who earlier this month gained a High Court injunction prohibiting media harassment of her and her child.
The first part of the inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the media formally began last Monday. The second part, examining the extent of unlawful activities by journalists, will not begin until detectives have completed their work and any prosecutions have concluded.The first part of the inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the media formally began last Monday. The second part, examining the extent of unlawful activities by journalists, will not begin until detectives have completed their work and any prosecutions have concluded.