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Met police pays damages to phone-hacking solicitor accused of lying Met police pays damages to phone-hacking solicitor accused of lying
(about 1 hour later)
The solicitor who spearheaded the campaign to bring Scotland Yard's failings over phone hacking to light, has accepted damages from police after false claims that he gave dishonest evidence to a parliamentary inquiry. The solicitor who spearheaded the campaign to bring Scotland Yard's failings over phone hacking to light has accepted damages from police after false claims that he gave dishonest evidence to a parliamentary inquiry.
The Metropolitan police will pay solicitor Mark Lewis £30,000 and costs of £200,000, without admitting liability.The Metropolitan police will pay solicitor Mark Lewis £30,000 and costs of £200,000, without admitting liability.
Lewis had challenged the Met's apparent insistence that only one rogue reporter was responsible for phone hacking at the News of the World.Lewis had challenged the Met's apparent insistence that only one rogue reporter was responsible for phone hacking at the News of the World.
In 2009 Lewis testified before the media, culture and sport select committee where he said a Met detective had told him that 6,000 people could be victims of phone hacking. The Met claimed Lewis was wrong and the solicitor sued police claiming their statement implied that he had been deliberately untruthful before MPs. In 2009 Lewis testified before the media, culture and sport select committee where he said a Met detective had told him that 6,000 people could be victims of phone hacking. The Met claimed Lewis was wrong and the solicitor sued police, claiming their statement implied that he had been deliberately untruthful before MPs.
Lewis has brought some of the most significant civil claims that helped force out the truth about the phone hacking scandal, representing the head of the Professional Footballers Association Gordon Taylor who won £700,000 damages and costs from the now defunct Sunday tabloid, and the family of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.Lewis has brought some of the most significant civil claims that helped force out the truth about the phone hacking scandal, representing the head of the Professional Footballers Association Gordon Taylor who won £700,000 damages and costs from the now defunct Sunday tabloid, and the family of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
Lewis's barrister, Ronald Thwaites QC - in front of Mr Justice Eady at the high court - said Lewis told the culture, media and sport select committee in September 2009 that he had been informed by Detective Inspector Mark Maberly that around 6,000 people either had their phone messages hacked or left messages that were intercepted on phones that were hacked. Lewis's barrister, Ronald Thwaites QC – in front of Mr Justice Eady at the high court – said Lewis told the culture, media and sport select committee in September 2009 that he had been informed by Detective Inspector Mark Maberly that around 6,000 people either had their phone messages hacked or left messages that were intercepted on phones that were hacked.
He said that, in response to a request for information from the Press Complaints Commission about the extent of the suspected phone hacking, the Metropolitan police said Maberly had been wrongly quoted on the 6,000 figure.He said that, in response to a request for information from the Press Complaints Commission about the extent of the suspected phone hacking, the Metropolitan police said Maberly had been wrongly quoted on the 6,000 figure.
Counsel said the Metropolitan police confirmed that it regretted that its statement might have been misinterpreted in some quarters. It had no reason to believe that Mr Lewis gave anything other than evidence which was to the best of his recollection.Counsel said the Metropolitan police confirmed that it regretted that its statement might have been misinterpreted in some quarters. It had no reason to believe that Mr Lewis gave anything other than evidence which was to the best of his recollection.
Equally, said Thwaites, Lewis was happy to confirm that he withdrew the allegation of dishonesty made against Mr Maberly and recognised that he also gave an account of events to the best of his recollection.Equally, said Thwaites, Lewis was happy to confirm that he withdrew the allegation of dishonesty made against Mr Maberly and recognised that he also gave an account of events to the best of his recollection.
In a statement the Met said: "In light of media coverage about the settlement reached between the MPS and Mark Lewis, we can confirm that Mr Lewis has agreed to accept £30,000 in settlement."In a statement the Met said: "In light of media coverage about the settlement reached between the MPS and Mark Lewis, we can confirm that Mr Lewis has agreed to accept £30,000 in settlement."
"The MPS has agreed to contribute £176,153.60 towards the claimant's costs. The MPS has not admitted liability in this matter but is rightly mindful of the cost of legal proceedings to the public purse, so we are pleased that a potentially expensive libel trial has been avoided.""The MPS has agreed to contribute £176,153.60 towards the claimant's costs. The MPS has not admitted liability in this matter but is rightly mindful of the cost of legal proceedings to the public purse, so we are pleased that a potentially expensive libel trial has been avoided."