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Murdoch admits: there was a "cover-up"

News Corp head admits News of the World disguised phone-hacking.

New Statesman
News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch, his wife Wendi Deng and son Lachlan leave their London home earlier today. Photograph: Getty Images.

An increasingly foul-tempered Rupert Murdoch has made several revelations during his testimony to the Leveson inquiry. But one, more than any other, stands out: his admission, for the first time, that the News of the World did "cover-up" phone hacking.

Here's that quote in full:

I do blame one or two people for that who perhaps I shouldn't name for all I know they may be arrested. There is no question in my mind maybe even the editor, but certainly beyond that someone, took charge of a cover-up which we were victim to and I regret.

Pressed by Robert Jay, QC, to say from where the “culture of cover-up” emanated, Murdoch answered: "the person I'm thinking of was a friend of the journalists, a drinking pal and a clever lawyer.

“And this person forbade people to go and report to Mrs Brooks or to James. That is not to excuse it on our behalf at all. I take it extremely seriously that that situation had arisen.”

2 comments

ACMJ's picture

With all the "cover up" being put to one side , Rupert "Murky" Mudoch's smike grin suggests , " so ? I am guilty ! Prove it and sue me ! Their ain't nothing else you can do to me !"
The undisputed "J R Eweing" of Fleet street says what ever he wants as he believes he has enough money to get away with what he says and does . How ever , he just stops short of saying that he knew about the cover ups before hand and had authorised the cover ups knowingly , due a "drinking pal and a clever Lawyer " . I think that would actually be two people and not one , as no "clever lawyer" goes out to drink with a journalist .

McMac's picture

So the conspiracy was masterminded by some bloke down the pub? Not the people in charge of NI, oh no.

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