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| Soham officers' relatives were paid by reporter, says MP | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Police officers investigating the Soham murders in Cambridgeshire were paid for information, an MP has claimed. | Police officers investigating the Soham murders in Cambridgeshire were paid for information, an MP has claimed. |
| Labour MP Tom Watson said he believed a police report suggested a News of the World reporter paid officers' relatives after the deaths of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002. | Labour MP Tom Watson said he believed a police report suggested a News of the World reporter paid officers' relatives after the deaths of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002. |
| Mr Watson made the claim about Alex Marunchak in a House of Commons debate on Wednesday. | Mr Watson made the claim about Alex Marunchak in a House of Commons debate on Wednesday. |
| Mr Marunchak told the Press Gazette the allegations were "completely untrue". | Mr Marunchak told the Press Gazette the allegations were "completely untrue". |
| Cambridgeshire Police said they were unaware of any such allegations. | Cambridgeshire Police said they were unaware of any such allegations. |
| Ten-year-olds Jessica and Holly were murdered by school caretaker Ian Huntley, who was jailed for life. | Ten-year-olds Jessica and Holly were murdered by school caretaker Ian Huntley, who was jailed for life. |
| Mr Watson, the MP for West Bromwich East, alleged Mr Marunchak was overheard saying he was paying police public relations for information about the girls' deaths. | Mr Watson, the MP for West Bromwich East, alleged Mr Marunchak was overheard saying he was paying police public relations for information about the girls' deaths. |
| Manchester United tops | Manchester United tops |
| "I believe the Met [Police] is sitting on an intelligence report from late 2002 that claims a police contact overheard Marunchak claim he was paying the relatives of police officers in Cambridgeshire for information about the Soham murders," Mr Watson said. | "I believe the Met [Police] is sitting on an intelligence report from late 2002 that claims a police contact overheard Marunchak claim he was paying the relatives of police officers in Cambridgeshire for information about the Soham murders," Mr Watson said. |
| "As far as we know, those allegations have not been investigated." | "As far as we know, those allegations have not been investigated." |
| Mr Watson, deputy chairman of the Labour Party, is a member of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, which is investigating allegations of phone hacking. | Mr Watson, deputy chairman of the Labour Party, is a member of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, which is investigating allegations of phone hacking. |
| "I do not know whether the intelligence reports are accurate, but I do know that Alex Marunchak was involved in writing stories about how the Manchester United tops of those young girls were found," he said. | "I do not know whether the intelligence reports are accurate, but I do know that Alex Marunchak was involved in writing stories about how the Manchester United tops of those young girls were found," he said. |
| 'Never wrote copy' | 'Never wrote copy' |
| In a statement to the Press Gazette, Mr Marunchak said he was in charge of the Irish News of the World at the time of the murders. | In a statement to the Press Gazette, Mr Marunchak said he was in charge of the Irish News of the World at the time of the murders. |
| "I never worked on stories about the Soham murders, never wrote copy, nor interviewed anyone," he added. | "I never worked on stories about the Soham murders, never wrote copy, nor interviewed anyone," he added. |
| "I did not pay any relatives of police officers involved in the Soham murders. | "I did not pay any relatives of police officers involved in the Soham murders. |
| "For the avoidance of any doubt - what Watson said is completely untrue." | "For the avoidance of any doubt - what Watson said is completely untrue." |
| In the same Westminster Hall debate, Mr Watson also alleged at least one of the Soham girls' parents was named in the evidence of private investigator Glen Mulcaire. | In the same Westminster Hall debate, Mr Watson also alleged at least one of the Soham girls' parents was named in the evidence of private investigator Glen Mulcaire. |
| Det Ch Con John Feavyour, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: "I am not aware of any allegations that payments were made to Cambridgeshire Police for information regarding the investigation into the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. | Det Ch Con John Feavyour, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: "I am not aware of any allegations that payments were made to Cambridgeshire Police for information regarding the investigation into the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. |
| "I will now write to MP Tom Watson to ask that he provides me with all of the details in his possession in order that I can carry out an inquiry accordingly." | "I will now write to MP Tom Watson to ask that he provides me with all of the details in his possession in order that I can carry out an inquiry accordingly." |