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Piers Morgan tells Leveson: Daily Mirror did not hack phones Piers Morgan tells Leveson: Daily Mirror did not hack phones
(40 minutes later)
Former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan has told the Leveson Inquiry he does not believe phone hacking took place at the paper while he was in charge.Former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan has told the Leveson Inquiry he does not believe phone hacking took place at the paper while he was in charge.
Mr Morgan now works for CNN in the United States and is giving evidence to the inquiry in London via video link.
Denying suggestions hacking was endemic at the Mirror, he said: "I have no reason... to believe it was going on."Denying suggestions hacking was endemic at the Mirror, he said: "I have no reason... to believe it was going on."
Mr Morgan said he had not been "directly involved" in the use of private investigators.
Former News of the World TV editor Sharron Marshall and journalists' union boss Steve Turner appeared earlier.Former News of the World TV editor Sharron Marshall and journalists' union boss Steve Turner appeared earlier.
Voicemail claim
Mr Morgan was the Mirror's editor between 1995 and 2004. He told the inquiry into media ethics that he did "not believe to the best of my recollection" that hacking took place during that time. He also edited the News of the World (NoW) between January 1994 and November 1995.Mr Morgan was the Mirror's editor between 1995 and 2004. He told the inquiry into media ethics that he did "not believe to the best of my recollection" that hacking took place during that time. He also edited the News of the World (NoW) between January 1994 and November 1995.
He told the inquiry: "Not a single person has made a formal or legal complaint against the Daily Mirror for phone hacking." Speaking via video link from the US, where he is a TV presenter for CNN, he told the inquiry: "Not a single person has made a formal or legal complaint against the Daily Mirror for phone hacking."
In August, it emerged that Heather Mills - former wife of Sir Paul McCartney - had alleged that a senior Mirror Group journalist admitted to her in 2001 that he had hacked into her voicemail. He also said he had never been aware of police officers being paid for information while he was at the paper.
The senior journalist referred to by Ms Mills is known not to be Mr Morgan, but the message in question appeared to be the same as one that he admitted to having listened to in a Daily Mail article in 2006. Voicemail claim
In a statement issued in August, he said Ms Mills' claims were "unsubstantiated", adding: "To reiterate, I have never hacked a phone, told anyone to hack a phone, nor to my knowledge published any story obtained from the hacking of a phone." Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, asked Mr Morgan about a recording of a voicemail message left by Sir Paul McCartney for his then-wife Heather Mills when the couple were suffering marriage problems.
Mr Morgan told the inquiry on Tuesday that he had listened to a tape of Ms Mills' message but refused to give details of how he came to listen to it. Mr Morgan said he had listened to a tape of Ms Mills' message but repeatedly refused to give details of how he came to listen to it.
He said: "I can't discuss where was played that tape or who played it - it would compromise a source."He said: "I can't discuss where was played that tape or who played it - it would compromise a source."
Inquiry chairman Lord Justice Leveson said he was happy to call Ms Mills to see whether she had granted permission for the message to be listened to.Inquiry chairman Lord Justice Leveson said he was happy to call Ms Mills to see whether she had granted permission for the message to be listened to.
When asked if it was unethical to listen to phone messages, Morgan said: "It doesn't necessarily follow that listening to someone else talking to someone else is unethical."When asked if it was unethical to listen to phone messages, Morgan said: "It doesn't necessarily follow that listening to someone else talking to someone else is unethical."
Tuesday's hearing began with Julian Pike, partner at a law firm used by NoW owner News International, being recalled to the inquiry to explain how he knew actress Sienna Miller was going to make a claim against the now-defunct newspaper before it became public.Tuesday's hearing began with Julian Pike, partner at a law firm used by NoW owner News International, being recalled to the inquiry to explain how he knew actress Sienna Miller was going to make a claim against the now-defunct newspaper before it became public.
He supplied the inquiry with emails from various parties involved and a letter from the Metropolitan Police relating to the matter.He supplied the inquiry with emails from various parties involved and a letter from the Metropolitan Police relating to the matter.
'Card marked''Card marked'
Mr Turner, general secretary of the British Association of Journalists, then described a culture of "bullying" at some newspapers.Mr Turner, general secretary of the British Association of Journalists, then described a culture of "bullying" at some newspapers.
If people turned up at News International accompanied by a union rep they would have had their "card marked", he said.If people turned up at News International accompanied by a union rep they would have had their "card marked", he said.
He told the inquiry: "I'm ashamed to be telling you this because we are supposed to be living in a free, democratic country but we are not.He told the inquiry: "I'm ashamed to be telling you this because we are supposed to be living in a free, democratic country but we are not.
"We are living in a society where people are wage slaves and treated very badly and that's the circumstance I found at the News of the World.""We are living in a society where people are wage slaves and treated very badly and that's the circumstance I found at the News of the World."
Mr Turner said the News of the World was "unique" in using "phoney" disciplinary issues to force staff out of the paper.Mr Turner said the News of the World was "unique" in using "phoney" disciplinary issues to force staff out of the paper.
"The individual quickly got the message that they wanted him out" and would seek a payout for leaving, he said."The individual quickly got the message that they wanted him out" and would seek a payout for leaving, he said.
Ms Marshall told the inquiry there were some managers who were not ideal and there could be dispute over the way a story was handled.Ms Marshall told the inquiry there were some managers who were not ideal and there could be dispute over the way a story was handled.
But she added: "I wouldn't say there's a culture of bullying... maybe you have a disagreement about how story is (done)."But she added: "I wouldn't say there's a culture of bullying... maybe you have a disagreement about how story is (done)."