Despite denials by News International, Rupert Murdoch's umbrella group for his London newspapers, that it never countenanced the hacking of the voicemails of celebrities by its News of the World reporters, rival newspapers are demanding to know whether the news organization is paying the legal fees of the private detective at the center of the scandal, Glenn Mulcaire. Dozens -- perhaps hundreds or even thousands -- of lawsuits are expected to be filed against News International, the NoW , its reporters and Editors, and Mulcaire, who was jailed two years ago for his part in the hacking scheme. Mulcaire has steadfastly refused to disclose who instructed him to hack the voicemails, and, just as steadfastly, News International has refused to say whether it is paying the bills for Mulcaire's defense -- expected to rise to $1 million, according to a recent account in The Guardian newspaper. Roy Greenslade, a professor of journalism at City University London, who writes a blog for the Guardian , asked just today (Monday) whether News International is paying Mulcaire's legal fees, then remarked, "If The Answer is 'yes,' then there is an obvious follow-up question Why should a major media corporation be offering financial support to a man who went to jail for illicit activities that, according to its recent statement, were the cause of 'genuine regret.'" Greenslade vowed to raise the question of who is paying Mulcaire's legal bills "every day" until it is answered.

18/04/2011