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Leveson Inquiry: Heather Mills denies voicemail access claim Leveson Inquiry: Heather Mills denies allowing voicemail access
(40 minutes later)
The former wife of Sir Paul McCartney has denied authorising former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan to access her voicemail messages.The former wife of Sir Paul McCartney has denied authorising former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan to access her voicemail messages.
Heather Mills told the Leveson Inquiry about an incident in 2001 after she returned from a holiday in India.Heather Mills told the Leveson Inquiry about an incident in 2001 after she returned from a holiday in India.
The couple had had a row, she said, and he left her 25 voicemail messages, including a "ditty".The couple had had a row, she said, and he left her 25 voicemail messages, including a "ditty".
Ms Mills said another journalist later told her he knew there had been problems and mentioned the song.Ms Mills said another journalist later told her he knew there had been problems and mentioned the song.
Mr Morgan, now a chat show host, has previously told the inquiry he listened to a voicemail message left for Mills by Sir Paul, but refused to say when or where because he wanted to protect a "source".Mr Morgan, now a chat show host, has previously told the inquiry he listened to a voicemail message left for Mills by Sir Paul, but refused to say when or where because he wanted to protect a "source".
Ms Mills said she had never authorised Morgan or anybody else to access or listen to her voicemails.Ms Mills said she had never authorised Morgan or anybody else to access or listen to her voicemails.
"I couldn't quite believe that he would even try to insinuate, a man that has written nothing but awful things about me for years, would relish in telling the court if I had played a voicemail message to him," she said."I couldn't quite believe that he would even try to insinuate, a man that has written nothing but awful things about me for years, would relish in telling the court if I had played a voicemail message to him," she said.
Earlier former News of the World (NoW) news editor Ian Edmondson was asked about the role of private investigator Derek Webb. Ms Mills said press coverage of her was quite favourable after the accident in 1993 when she lost her leg.
But she said: "As soon as I met him (Sir Paul) it became 'one-legged bitch' and 'cow' and every awful word you can think of."
'Lies and abuse'
She criticised the "postage stamp-sized apologies" which newspapers were forced to make following inaccurate stories about her.
Ms Mills said: "My personal view is that until there is a disincentive to write lies and abusive comments it's going to continue.
"If you know you are going to be embarrassed by front page apologies every week I think you'd stop."
She said tiny apologies, years later, were inadequate and added: "The public believe the (original) lies."
She also called for all photographers to be licensed and newspapers should only be able to use licensed photographers.
Earlier former News of the World (NoW) news editor Ian Edmondson agreed with Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, that there was a "culture of bullying" at the NoW.
When asked if ex-NoW editor Colin Myler was part of that culture, Mr Edmondson agreed he was, but said as he was awaiting an employment tribunal against News International and did not wish to go into detail.
Solicitor surveillanceSolicitor surveillance
Counsel to the inquiry, Robert Jay QC, asked him about the decision to rebrand Mr Webb as a journalist, complete with a National Union of Journalists (NUJ) press card. Mr Jay asked Mr Edmondson about the decision to rebrand private investigator Derek Webb as a journalist, complete with a National Union of Journalists (NUJ) press card.
He admitted it was a "sham" but he said Mr Webb's surveillance experience was valuable and attempts to use journalists to conduct surveillance had not been successful in the past because they were not properly trained.He admitted it was a "sham" but he said Mr Webb's surveillance experience was valuable and attempts to use journalists to conduct surveillance had not been successful in the past because they were not properly trained.
Mr Edmondson said he believed NoW editor Colin Myler and News International lawyer Tom Crone were aware of the "pretence". Mr Edmondson said he believed Mr Myler and News International lawyer Tom Crone were aware of the "pretence".
He was also asked about surveillance on solicitor Mark Lewis and he said he did not understand the point when he was not a well-known figure. When asked about surveillance on solicitor Mark Lewis, Mr Edmondson said he did not understand the point, as he "didn't see it as a story. It wouldn't have got into the paper".
"I didn't see it as a story. It wouldn't have got into the paper," added Mr Edmondson.
He was later asked about reporter Neville Thurlbeck's attempts to contact two women who were involved in the attempt to expose Formula 1 boss Max Mosley over his involvement in a sado-masochistic sex session.He was later asked about reporter Neville Thurlbeck's attempts to contact two women who were involved in the attempt to expose Formula 1 boss Max Mosley over his involvement in a sado-masochistic sex session.
Mr Edmondson said that on reflection they read like "threats". Mr Edmondson, href="http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Witness-Statement-of-Ian-Edmondson.pdf" >whose statement to the inquiry has now been published on the Leveson Inquiry website, said that on reflection they read like "threats".
Earlier the founder of one of the world's biggest photography agencies has told the Leveson Inquiry he follows the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) code.Earlier the founder of one of the world's biggest photography agencies has told the Leveson Inquiry he follows the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) code.
Darryn Lyons, who set up Big Pictures, said he had no reason to believe paparazzi he uses acted unethically.Darryn Lyons, who set up Big Pictures, said he had no reason to believe paparazzi he uses acted unethically.
Lord Justice Leveson asked him: "What is the line? Where do you draw the line?"
Mr Lyons, speaking on a videolink from Australia, replied: "Along the PCC line (code)."
Court publicity
He also accused celebrities and their public relations people of using paparazzi as a "publicity tool" to "raise their profile".He also accused celebrities and their public relations people of using paparazzi as a "publicity tool" to "raise their profile".
Carine Patry Hoskins, counsel to the inquiry, asked him about a paragraph in his book in which he mentions an incident outside the home of TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson in which photographers employed by him "almost caused a major accident".Carine Patry Hoskins, counsel to the inquiry, asked him about a paragraph in his book in which he mentions an incident outside the home of TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson in which photographers employed by him "almost caused a major accident".
Mr Lyons said: "In that case the photographers were disciplined in no uncertain terms." Mr Lyons, href="http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Witness-Statement-of-Darryn-Lyons.pdf" >whose statement has been published on the inquiry website, said: "In that case the photographers were disciplined in no uncertain terms."
She asked him: "Do you still condone car shots?" Ms Hoskins also asked him about proceedings brought in 2009 by actress Sienna Miller for "harassment" and "invasion of privacy", which resulted in her being awarded £53,000 in damages and the agency forbidden from following her in future.
He replied: "Yes. I think the photographer is within their rights to take photographs of someone in a car."
Ms Hoskins asked him about proceedings brought in 2009 by actress Sienna Miller for "harassment" and "invasion of privacy".
She said she was awarded £53,000 in damages and the agency was forbidden from following her in future.
Mr Lyons said that incident stemmed from photographs his people took of her on a yacht in the Mediterranean with Balthazar Getty.Mr Lyons said that incident stemmed from photographs his people took of her on a yacht in the Mediterranean with Balthazar Getty.
He said: "At the end of the day celebrities court publicity when they want to court publicity and then all of a sudden they want to switch it off.He said: "At the end of the day celebrities court publicity when they want to court publicity and then all of a sudden they want to switch it off.
"I don't believe people should be hounded up and down the street but I do believe that as part of history people should be able to take photographs in public places and I am adamant about it. We have a freedom of the press.""I don't believe people should be hounded up and down the street but I do believe that as part of history people should be able to take photographs in public places and I am adamant about it. We have a freedom of the press."
Among the other witnesses due to give evidence on Thursday are PR guru Max Clifford and the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Michelle Stanistreet. NUJ's Michelle Stanistreet told the Leveson Inquiry journalists should have a "conscience clause" allowing them to refuse something unethical.
Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre is also being recalled. "When faced with pressure to do something unethical and something which contravenes the NUJ code of conduct they could evoke that clause and take that stance and can't be then sacked for not doing what is in their employment contract," she said.
Ms Stanistreet told the inquiry she had interviewed 40 journalists about ethics and bullying, 12 of whom allowed her to record them in a document which she presented to Lord Justice Leveson.
The other witnesses due to give evidence on Thursday are PR guru Max Clifford and Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, who is being recalled.