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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sky News admits 'canoe man' John Darwin email hack | Sky News admits 'canoe man' John Darwin email hack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sky News has said it illegally hacked emails belonging to members of the public on two separate occasions. | Sky News has said it illegally hacked emails belonging to members of the public on two separate occasions. |
| The broadcaster said it hacked emails from John Darwin, who faked his own death in a canoe, and his wife Anne. | The broadcaster said it hacked emails from John Darwin, who faked his own death in a canoe, and his wife Anne. |
| A spokesman for Sky News said police "absolutely knew" the emails - which it passed to officers working on the Darwin case - were obtained by hacking. | A spokesman for Sky News said police "absolutely knew" the emails - which it passed to officers working on the Darwin case - were obtained by hacking. |
| Sky News said the action was in the public interest and amounted to "responsible journalism". | Sky News said the action was in the public interest and amounted to "responsible journalism". |
| The second email hacking incident Sky disclosed targeted the accounts of a suspected paedophile and his wife. | The second email hacking incident Sky disclosed targeted the accounts of a suspected paedophile and his wife. |
| The broadcaster released a statement which said: "Sky News is committed to the highest editorial standards. | The broadcaster released a statement which said: "Sky News is committed to the highest editorial standards. |
| "Like other news organisations, we are acutely aware of the tensions that can arise between the law and responsible investigative journalism. | "Like other news organisations, we are acutely aware of the tensions that can arise between the law and responsible investigative journalism. |
| "We stand by these actions as editorially justified and in the public interest." | "We stand by these actions as editorially justified and in the public interest." |
| The statement went on: "We do not take such decisions lightly or frequently. | The statement went on: "We do not take such decisions lightly or frequently. |
| "They require finely balanced judgement based on individual circumstances and must always be subjected to the proper editorial controls." | "They require finely balanced judgement based on individual circumstances and must always be subjected to the proper editorial controls." |
| John Darwin was reported missing in a canoe in the North Sea in March 2002. | John Darwin was reported missing in a canoe in the North Sea in March 2002. |
| His wife Anne collected more than £500,000 in life insurance payouts while he hid in their marital home, allowing their two sons to think he was dead. | His wife Anne collected more than £500,000 in life insurance payouts while he hid in their marital home, allowing their two sons to think he was dead. |
| The pair were found guilty of the deception in 2008. | The pair were found guilty of the deception in 2008. |
| In the run-up to the trial former Sky News managing editor Simon Cole agreed North of England correspondent Gerard Tubb could hack into Darwins' Yahoo! email account. | In the run-up to the trial former Sky News managing editor Simon Cole agreed North of England correspondent Gerard Tubb could hack into Darwins' Yahoo! email account. |
| A Sky source now has told the BBC that Mr Cole will be leaving the company in the coming weeks. | |
| Mr Tubb uncovered messages which cast doubt on Mrs Darwin's claim during her criminal trial that her "domineering" husband forced her to go through with the fraud plan. | Mr Tubb uncovered messages which cast doubt on Mrs Darwin's claim during her criminal trial that her "domineering" husband forced her to go through with the fraud plan. |
| Sky News said it supplied material it had gathered to Cleveland police which was "pivotal" to the court case. | Sky News said it supplied material it had gathered to Cleveland police which was "pivotal" to the court case. |
| A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Cleveland Police has conducted an initial review into these matters and can confirm that enquiries are ongoing into how the emails were obtained." | A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Cleveland Police has conducted an initial review into these matters and can confirm that enquiries are ongoing into how the emails were obtained." |
| It is illegal to hack into emails under the Computer Misuse Act. | It is illegal to hack into emails under the Computer Misuse Act. |
| Tom Watson MP, a vocal critic of Rupert Murdoch journalists during the phone hacking scandal, said of the latest development: "There are many questions that need answering. | Tom Watson MP, a vocal critic of Rupert Murdoch journalists during the phone hacking scandal, said of the latest development: "There are many questions that need answering. |
| "The chair of BSkyB needs to say something on this and reassure viewers this has not been going on more widely." | "The chair of BSkyB needs to say something on this and reassure viewers this has not been going on more widely." |
| He continued: "There are cases where the public is best served with journalists breaking the law. | He continued: "There are cases where the public is best served with journalists breaking the law. |
| "But it has to be done in extremis and I am not sure whether it was in these two cases. It is too early to know." | "But it has to be done in extremis and I am not sure whether it was in these two cases. It is too early to know." |
| But Peter Preston, a former editor of The Guardian newspaper, said: "I think it's pretty clear there are [public interest defences for hacking the Darwins' emails]. | |
| "I don't see this as a story in the News of the World type at all. | |
| "Nobody is saying there was not some real crookery here that the police weren't properly informed of." | |
| He added: "It is when you get into the more seedy areas of stories, which don't have any public merit at all, the difficulties start." | |
| Sky News is part of BSkyB, which is 39% owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. | Sky News is part of BSkyB, which is 39% owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. |
| BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Matt Prodger said: "It's extremely sensitive, because Sky News is a subsidiary of BSkyB, which is currently under investigation by Ofcom to see whether it is fit and proper to continue holding a broadcasting licence. | BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Matt Prodger said: "It's extremely sensitive, because Sky News is a subsidiary of BSkyB, which is currently under investigation by Ofcom to see whether it is fit and proper to continue holding a broadcasting licence. |
| "So it is a real blow to yet another part of the Murdoch empire." | "So it is a real blow to yet another part of the Murdoch empire." |