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Leveson Inquiry: Mirror phone hacking possibly hidden - editor Leveson Inquiry: Phone hacking 'possibly' behind Sven-Ulrika scoop
(40 minutes later)
The Daily Mirror's editor has told a media ethics inquiry that phone hacking "might well have been" taking place when he was the paper's showbiz editor. A hacked voicemail could have been the source of a scoop revealing Sven-Goran Eriksson's affair with Ulrika Johnson, the Daily Mirror's editor has said.
Richard Wallace told the Leveson Inquiry he had no knowledge of reporters using the practice but that it might have been hidden from him. Richard Wallace told a media ethics inquiry that phone hacking "might well have been" taking place when he was showbiz editor under Piers Morgan.
Mr Wallace ran showbiz news under editor Piers Morgan, who has said he was "not aware" of phone hacking. Mr Wallace told the Leveson Inquiry he had no knowledge of hacking but said it might have been hidden from him.
Publisher Trinity Mirror has insisted its journalists work within the law.Publisher Trinity Mirror has insisted its journalists work within the law.
Mr Morgan has previously told the inquiry he was "not aware" of phone hacking taking place when he was in charge.
The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Leveson at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is currently looking at the culture, practices and ethics of the press in general.The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Leveson at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is currently looking at the culture, practices and ethics of the press in general.
'Journalistic tool' 'Confirmed with agent'
Mr Wallace was asked about the evidence of James Hipwell, a former financial reporter at the paper who spent time in jail for writing about firms whose shares he owned. Mr Wallace said he could not recall the source of the story about former England football manager Eriksson but said he had taken the "tip" - received within the showbiz department - straight to his predecessor as editor.
Mr Hipwell had told the inquiry that he sat next to the showbiz team between 1998 and 2000 and frequently overhead them talking about phone hacking, giving him the impression it was a "bog-standard journalistic tool". Mr Morgan had then confirmed it with TV personality Johnson's agent.
Asked if it was possible it could have been obtained through phone hacking, Mr Wallace replied: "It's possible, yes."
Earlier, he had been asked about the evidence of James Hipwell, a former financial reporter at the paper who spent time in jail for writing about firms whose shares he owned.
Mr Hipwell has told the inquiry that he sat next to the showbiz team between 1998 and 2000 and frequently overhead them talking about phone hacking, giving him the impression it was a "bog-standard journalistic tool".
Mr Wallace, showbiz editor for part of that time, was asked if it was true that phone hacking was going on.Mr Wallace, showbiz editor for part of that time, was asked if it was true that phone hacking was going on.
"No, not to my knowledge," he replied."No, not to my knowledge," he replied.
But when asked whether it could have been hidden from him, he said: "It might well have been."But when asked whether it could have been hidden from him, he said: "It might well have been."
Mr Wallace said he had met company executives after News of the World reporter Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for intercepting voicemail messages in 2007.Mr Wallace said he had met company executives after News of the World reporter Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for intercepting voicemail messages in 2007.
This was to ensure a "zero tolerance" policy at the Mirror titles, he said.This was to ensure a "zero tolerance" policy at the Mirror titles, he said.
"It was a very strong message from the corporate arm that any illegality is just not on.""It was a very strong message from the corporate arm that any illegality is just not on."
Asked about the current culture at the Daily Mirror, Mr Wallace said reminders about ethical conduct were not needed.Asked about the current culture at the Daily Mirror, Mr Wallace said reminders about ethical conduct were not needed.
"Ethical issues are embedded within the culture of our newsroom," he said."Ethical issues are embedded within the culture of our newsroom," he said.
However, Mr Wallace did admit he had unintentionally broken the Press Complaints Commission's editors' code "on occasion".However, Mr Wallace did admit he had unintentionally broken the Press Complaints Commission's editors' code "on occasion".
"It is always my intention not to break the law or break the code," he said."It is always my intention not to break the law or break the code," he said.
Mr Wallace was asked about an occasion when the Mirror ran a story based on an incorrect news agency court report alleging that a TV star had been charged with "unspeakable child porn offences".Mr Wallace was asked about an occasion when the Mirror ran a story based on an incorrect news agency court report alleging that a TV star had been charged with "unspeakable child porn offences".
'Human error''Human error'
It was, he agreed, a case of mistaken identity of a kind that could have "life-shattering consequences".It was, he agreed, a case of mistaken identity of a kind that could have "life-shattering consequences".
But he said: "The reporter made a mistake and no amount of tightening up of rules and regulation can stop human error."But he said: "The reporter made a mistake and no amount of tightening up of rules and regulation can stop human error."
Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey will give evidence later, along with the editors of the Sunday Mirror and the People.Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey will give evidence later, along with the editors of the Sunday Mirror and the People.
Prime Minister David Cameron set up the inquiry last July in response to revelations that the News of the World commissioned a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002.Prime Minister David Cameron set up the inquiry last July in response to revelations that the News of the World commissioned a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002.
It is due to report on media ethics and cultures by September. The inquiry's second stage will examine the extent of unlawful activities by journalists, once detectives have completed their investigation into alleged phone hacking and corrupt payments to police, and any prosecutions have been concluded.It is due to report on media ethics and cultures by September. The inquiry's second stage will examine the extent of unlawful activities by journalists, once detectives have completed their investigation into alleged phone hacking and corrupt payments to police, and any prosecutions have been concluded.