This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/23/andy-coulson-denies-cover-up-phone-hacking-news-world

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Andy Coulson denies 'covering up' phone hacking at News of the World Andy Coulson denies 'covering up' phone hacking at News of the World
(35 minutes later)
Andy Coulson has denied that he "covered up" phone hacking at the News of the World after one of his reporters was arrested in 2006 for eavesdropping on royal household voicemails.Andy Coulson has denied that he "covered up" phone hacking at the News of the World after one of his reporters was arrested in 2006 for eavesdropping on royal household voicemails.
He has also denied that he ordered his royal editor to plead guilty to phone-hacking offences following his arrest or to tell police he was a "lone wolf" acting as a single rogue reporter on the paper.He has also denied that he ordered his royal editor to plead guilty to phone-hacking offences following his arrest or to tell police he was a "lone wolf" acting as a single rogue reporter on the paper.
Coulson told jurors at the Old Bailey that nobody at the paper knew at the time that voicemail interception was illegal and people were "shocked" by what had happened.Coulson told jurors at the Old Bailey that nobody at the paper knew at the time that voicemail interception was illegal and people were "shocked" by what had happened.
He denied putting "barriers" in the way of any police investigation in the aftermath of giving any "statements", "instructions" or "suggestions" to Goodman in how he should approach his impending criminal trial.He denied putting "barriers" in the way of any police investigation in the aftermath of giving any "statements", "instructions" or "suggestions" to Goodman in how he should approach his impending criminal trial.
"I didn't cover up anything," said Coulson. "I took the view that the police should go where the police should go.""I didn't cover up anything," said Coulson. "I took the view that the police should go where the police should go."
Giving evidence for the fifth day at the phone-hacking trial at the Old Bailey, the former NoW editor described how the paper was plunged into a crisis following Goodman's arrest in 2006.Giving evidence for the fifth day at the phone-hacking trial at the Old Bailey, the former NoW editor described how the paper was plunged into a crisis following Goodman's arrest in 2006.
Anti-terrorism police arrived on the newsroom floor and following a discussion with his bosses Coulson was deputed to tell Rupert Murdoch what had happened. "He was concerned. He said the most valuable thing that a newspaper has is the trust of its readers, that's something that stayed in my mind,"Coulson said.Anti-terrorism police arrived on the newsroom floor and following a discussion with his bosses Coulson was deputed to tell Rupert Murdoch what had happened. "He was concerned. He said the most valuable thing that a newspaper has is the trust of its readers, that's something that stayed in my mind,"Coulson said.
Coulson added he was "shocked" by the unfolding events but that he did not know about phone hacking until Goodman was arrested in August 2006.Coulson added he was "shocked" by the unfolding events but that he did not know about phone hacking until Goodman was arrested in August 2006.
He was at home when he got a call to say his reporter had been arrested. "It became apparent quite quickly that he had been arrested for voicemail interception," he said.He was at home when he got a call to say his reporter had been arrested. "It became apparent quite quickly that he had been arrested for voicemail interception," he said.
He remembered that two others were arrested on the same day and it was the first time he heard of Glenn Mulcaire. The jury has heard Mulcaire was on a £100,000-a-year contract with the paper; he pleaded guilty to phone-hacking offences in 2006 and has done so again in the current trail.He remembered that two others were arrested on the same day and it was the first time he heard of Glenn Mulcaire. The jury has heard Mulcaire was on a £100,000-a-year contract with the paper; he pleaded guilty to phone-hacking offences in 2006 and has done so again in the current trail.
"I do not believe I heard the name Glenn Mulcaire until after Clive had been arrested," he said."I do not believe I heard the name Glenn Mulcaire until after Clive had been arrested," he said.
There was discussion about the arrest at the paper and he telephoned a News International executive, whose cannot be named for legal reasons. The executive was on holiday and asked Coulson to phone Murdoch to tell him the news.There was discussion about the arrest at the paper and he telephoned a News International executive, whose cannot be named for legal reasons. The executive was on holiday and asked Coulson to phone Murdoch to tell him the news.
"It was a very brief conversation with him in which I told him that Clive Goodman had been arrested. I was able to tell him a lot more at that stage and I told him and I said I would obviously keep him updated," Coulson said."It was a very brief conversation with him in which I told him that Clive Goodman had been arrested. I was able to tell him a lot more at that stage and I told him and I said I would obviously keep him updated," Coulson said.
Coulson said he recalled speaking to a News International lawyer about the crisis. "Nobody knew voicemail interception was illegal and I remember him explaining that. He said that that law that was apparently broken, he understood that was there in a large part as a piece of legislation that was there to help catch terrorists. He was shocked that this had happened."Coulson said he recalled speaking to a News International lawyer about the crisis. "Nobody knew voicemail interception was illegal and I remember him explaining that. He said that that law that was apparently broken, he understood that was there in a large part as a piece of legislation that was there to help catch terrorists. He was shocked that this had happened."
Coulson said he felt "the most important thing was that was should not stand in the way of the investigation".Coulson said he felt "the most important thing was that was should not stand in the way of the investigation".
He was asked by his defence counsel if it occurred to him that the David Blunkett voicemails he had listened to two years earlier had come from hacking.He was asked by his defence counsel if it occurred to him that the David Blunkett voicemails he had listened to two years earlier had come from hacking.
Coulson said he asked some "executives" at the newspaper company and he was told there was no link to Glenn Mulcaire. "I asked if Mulcaire or Nine Consultancy had been involved in the David Blunkett story and there answer came back 'no'," he added.Coulson said he asked some "executives" at the newspaper company and he was told there was no link to Glenn Mulcaire. "I asked if Mulcaire or Nine Consultancy had been involved in the David Blunkett story and there answer came back 'no'," he added.
Last week Coulson admitted that he had listened to voicemails Blunkett left for a married woman, Kimberly Fortier, in which he apparently declared his love for her.Last week Coulson admitted that he had listened to voicemails Blunkett left for a married woman, Kimberly Fortier, in which he apparently declared his love for her.
He denied hindering or helping the police in their investigation, or telling Goodman that he had influence that could help him avoid a prison sentence.He denied hindering or helping the police in their investigation, or telling Goodman that he had influence that could help him avoid a prison sentence.
"It was quite shocking. I wanted to make sure that the right thing was being done from the paper's perspective," he told jurors."It was quite shocking. I wanted to make sure that the right thing was being done from the paper's perspective," he told jurors.
"Also I was concerned for Clive as his editor, my view was that we had some duty of care to him," he said."Also I was concerned for Clive as his editor, my view was that we had some duty of care to him," he said.
Asked if he had launched an investigation into hacking on the paper, Coulson responded: "Rightly, or wrongly, I thought that wasn't for me to do. That was for the police to do and the company to decide how they wanted to handle it."Asked if he had launched an investigation into hacking on the paper, Coulson responded: "Rightly, or wrongly, I thought that wasn't for me to do. That was for the police to do and the company to decide how they wanted to handle it."
He said he didn't "put in barriers" to the police investigation, but "equally I didn't think it was for me to take on the role of the investigator".He said he didn't "put in barriers" to the police investigation, but "equally I didn't think it was for me to take on the role of the investigator".
He denied claims made by Goodman in earlier testimony that Coulson had instructed him to plead guilty to the charges he faced as part of a bid to cover up allegations that phone hacking was widespread on the paper and involved other executives on the newsdesk.He denied claims made by Goodman in earlier testimony that Coulson had instructed him to plead guilty to the charges he faced as part of a bid to cover up allegations that phone hacking was widespread on the paper and involved other executives on the newsdesk.
"No, I never told Clive Goodman that he should plead guilty. Nor did I tell him that he should plead not guilty," said Coulson."No, I never told Clive Goodman that he should plead guilty. Nor did I tell him that he should plead not guilty," said Coulson.
Coulson was asked about a meeting with Goodman in a branch of Cafe Rouge on 14 August 2006, six days after the reporter's arrest. "This has been presented as a series of statements, a series of instructions, demands, suggestions, that's not how I remember it," said Coulson. "Clive was doing most of the talking. The conversation was based around 'how are you?'"Coulson was asked about a meeting with Goodman in a branch of Cafe Rouge on 14 August 2006, six days after the reporter's arrest. "This has been presented as a series of statements, a series of instructions, demands, suggestions, that's not how I remember it," said Coulson. "Clive was doing most of the talking. The conversation was based around 'how are you?'"
Coulson admitted that he might have told Goodman he was "off the reservation" at some point. He added that Goodman was wrong to claim he had told him to tell police he was acting as a "lone wolf". "No, 'lone wolf' is not a phrase I'd use," said Coulson.Coulson admitted that he might have told Goodman he was "off the reservation" at some point. He added that Goodman was wrong to claim he had told him to tell police he was acting as a "lone wolf". "No, 'lone wolf' is not a phrase I'd use," said Coulson.
Goodman also claimed in his testimony earlier in the trial that Coulson had indicated that he could influence the reporter's possible sentence.Goodman also claimed in his testimony earlier in the trial that Coulson had indicated that he could influence the reporter's possible sentence.
"What influence would I have in preventing someone going to prison?" Coulson said. "There were anti-terrorist police on the newsroom floor, I had a reporter who was charged. I was feeling many things but I wasn't feeling influential.""What influence would I have in preventing someone going to prison?" Coulson said. "There were anti-terrorist police on the newsroom floor, I had a reporter who was charged. I was feeling many things but I wasn't feeling influential."
Coulson said he suspected that Goodman had a tape recorder in Cafe Rouge. "I remember he had a combat jacked on and he kept fidgeting in his pockets," Coulson said.Coulson said he suspected that Goodman had a tape recorder in Cafe Rouge. "I remember he had a combat jacked on and he kept fidgeting in his pockets," Coulson said.
He told jurors that inquiries he made about Mulcaire's activities did not suggest that anyone else was involved. He had been told that Goodman had said there had been leaks between Mulcaire's company Nine Consultancy and others newsdesk executives. "It was never said to me that that was evidence of their being involved in phone hacking," Coulson said.He told jurors that inquiries he made about Mulcaire's activities did not suggest that anyone else was involved. He had been told that Goodman had said there had been leaks between Mulcaire's company Nine Consultancy and others newsdesk executives. "It was never said to me that that was evidence of their being involved in phone hacking," Coulson said.
Coulson said he also had a conversation about the alleged connections with Mulcaire with a News International lawyer who cannot be named for legal reasons. He said the lawyer told him "it was not evidence at that stage that linked other news editors to voicemail interception".Coulson said he also had a conversation about the alleged connections with Mulcaire with a News International lawyer who cannot be named for legal reasons. He said the lawyer told him "it was not evidence at that stage that linked other news editors to voicemail interception".
He later described Goodman's arrest as a "disaster" for him, the start of a journey that cost him his job at the paper and years later as David Cameron's spin doctor.
The jury was shown an email exchange between Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, then editor of the Sun, in which he protests about a leak to the Guardian on the day when Goodman was going to plead guilty. "I just don't think it's helpful, not least as it's all going so well today."
Asked what he meant by "going so well", Coulson said that he wondered if he had been sarcastic. "It was a disaster for the News of the Wold, for Clive Goodman and, it turns out, for me."
He said he believed now that "going so well" was a reference to the fact that the story hadn't "exploded" in the media.
Coulson referred again to the advice he had received from an News International lawyer when the company drafted a statement to be issued the day of Goodman's guilty plea.
"By this stage, there had been some discussion about these links in relation to other members of staff at the News of the World. The lawyer had made clear to me that there was no evidence that was voicemail interception," said Coulson.
An email from a News International lawyer to Coulson warning that Goodman may "stray off the preferred line" was nothing to do with efforts to keep the former royal editor on a company line.
Coulson said the worry was that if Goodman made a press statement after his guilty plea, he might say things that were "untrue", such as others being involved.
Coulson and Goodman deny all charges against them.Coulson and Goodman deny all charges against them.
The trial continues.The trial continues.