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Hacking trial: Andy Coulson quizzed on Prince Harry claims Hacking trial: Andy Coulson quizzed on Prince Harry claims
(35 minutes later)
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has admitted journalists at the newspaper had illegal access to private phone bills.Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has admitted journalists at the newspaper had illegal access to private phone bills.
He was asked about an email sent to him by a former reporter claiming Prince Harry had been called 60 times in one month by then girlfriend Chelsy Davey.He was asked about an email sent to him by a former reporter claiming Prince Harry had been called 60 times in one month by then girlfriend Chelsy Davey.
Mr Coulson told the hacking trial there had been "confusion" around data protection laws at that time.Mr Coulson told the hacking trial there had been "confusion" around data protection laws at that time.
The former editor, 46, of Charing, Kent, denies conspiring to hack phones.The former editor, 46, of Charing, Kent, denies conspiring to hack phones.
He also denies conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.He also denies conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.
Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Mr Coulson was asked about an email, which was sent to him by the News of the World's then royal editor, Clive Goodman, in October 2005, that claimed Prince Harry had received the calls while he was at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005.Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Mr Coulson was asked about an email, which was sent to him by the News of the World's then royal editor, Clive Goodman, in October 2005, that claimed Prince Harry had received the calls while he was at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005.
Phone bills
The court heard how the email claimed Ms Davey had been "driving Harry nuts" and added that "we have been having a very quiet look at this independently".The court heard how the email claimed Ms Davey had been "driving Harry nuts" and added that "we have been having a very quiet look at this independently".
Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said the email suggested Mr Goodman had "access to private phone records relating to Chelsy".Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said the email suggested Mr Goodman had "access to private phone records relating to Chelsy".
Mr Coulson admitted he did not "apply" his mind to the email and said his knowledge of the Data Protection Act while he was editor was "not what it should have been".Mr Coulson admitted he did not "apply" his mind to the email and said his knowledge of the Data Protection Act while he was editor was "not what it should have been".
He told the jury "there were areas about data protection that I should have been clearer on".He told the jury "there were areas about data protection that I should have been clearer on".
Asked about the practice of getting the private information from phone bills, Mr Coulson said: "I understood it in broad terms, but I did not know how it was done, who did it or how often."Asked about the practice of getting the private information from phone bills, Mr Coulson said: "I understood it in broad terms, but I did not know how it was done, who did it or how often."
He told the jury the word phone "traffic" - or getting information by examining phone bills - had been used at the newspaper, and told the jury how he had understood the phrase but had not known how the practice was done.He told the jury the word phone "traffic" - or getting information by examining phone bills - had been used at the newspaper, and told the jury how he had understood the phrase but had not known how the practice was done.
"I did not apply my mind enough to that particular area," he said."I did not apply my mind enough to that particular area," he said.
Mr Coulson, who became Downing Street director of communications after leaving the News of the World, added: "I don't want to give the impression it was mentioned often - it wasn't." Mr Coulson became Downing Street director of communications after leaving the News of the World.
"This is mentioned in writing in black and white in an email that is sent to you," Mr Edis asked. Harry's homework
Mr Coulson replied: "I really don't remember this story raising that particular concern." He was also asked about a voicemail transcript found on Mr Goodman's computer, in which Prince Harry had asked an aide for help with homework on the Iranian embassy siege.
Mr Coulson was also asked about a voicemail transcript found on Mr Goodman's computer, in which Prince Harry had asked an aide for help with homework on the Iranian embassy siege.
Earlier in the trial, Mr Goodman had told the court how he had shown Mr Coulson the transcript of the message, left by Prince Harry on his private secretary's mobile phone in December 2005.Earlier in the trial, Mr Goodman had told the court how he had shown Mr Coulson the transcript of the message, left by Prince Harry on his private secretary's mobile phone in December 2005.
Mr Goodman told the trial he had made the transcript after convicted hacker Glenn Mulcaire alerted him to the message.Mr Goodman told the trial he had made the transcript after convicted hacker Glenn Mulcaire alerted him to the message.
A story appeared in the now defunct tabloid later that month under the headline: "Harry's aide helps out on Sandhurst exams".A story appeared in the now defunct tabloid later that month under the headline: "Harry's aide helps out on Sandhurst exams".
The Old Bailey on Tuesday heard about an email exchange between Mr Coulson and Mr Goodman about the story, in which the former editor asked if the former royal reporter had "stood" the story up.The Old Bailey on Tuesday heard about an email exchange between Mr Coulson and Mr Goodman about the story, in which the former editor asked if the former royal reporter had "stood" the story up.
Mr Goodman replied: "As we know it's 100% fact."Mr Goodman replied: "As we know it's 100% fact."
However, Mr Coulson denied the email exchange showed he had known about the hacked voicemail, saying that the "we" reference was "not to my mind me and Clive, it's the newspaper".However, Mr Coulson denied the email exchange showed he had known about the hacked voicemail, saying that the "we" reference was "not to my mind me and Clive, it's the newspaper".
In a further exchange in court, Mr Edis put it that there had been "an awful lot of phone hacking going on at this point" at the News of the World, to which Mr Coulson replied: "I know that now."In a further exchange in court, Mr Edis put it that there had been "an awful lot of phone hacking going on at this point" at the News of the World, to which Mr Coulson replied: "I know that now."
"A number of people were doing it, yes," he added."A number of people were doing it, yes," he added.
Mr Coulson is one of seven defendants on trial, who all deny the charges against them.Mr Coulson is one of seven defendants on trial, who all deny the charges against them.