Hacking: Mirror Papers Face Legal Claims

By David Bowden, Senior Correspondent

Newspapers belonging to Trinity Mirror are to face legal claims over phone hacking allegations for the first time, Sky News has learned.

Until now the only company to be sued for illegally snooping on voicemail messages was News Group Newspapers, publishers of the now-defunct News Of The World.

The latest claims allege that the mobile phone messages of the former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Abbie Gibson, former nanny to the Beckham children, ex-Manchester City star Garry Flitcroft and actress Shobna Gulati were all listened to by Mirror group journalists.

Lawyer Mark Lewis: 'We will show there is a smoking bullet'

There have been allegations that hacking was going on at the Mirror titles before, but the publisher of papers including the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

But now solicitor Mark Lewis has lodged claims on behalf of his clients.

Piers Morgan: 'No reason to believe (hacking) was going on'

He said that unlike the News Of The World hacking cases, where police found a list of alleged victims in a notebook belonging to private investigator Glen Mulcaire, there is no paper trail this time round.

"There might not be a documentary smoking gun, but we will show there is a smoking bullet, the consequence of the actions," said Mr Lewis.

The former editor of the Daily Mirror, Piers Morgan, wrote a number of articles alleging phone hacking was prevalent in Fleet Street, but told the Leveson Inquiry he had never sanctioned it when he was an editor.

"My own evidence is I had no reason or knowledge to believe it was going on," he told the inquiry earlier this year.

In the summer, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, in charge of investigating any criminal aspects of the cases, told MPs she believed there were more than 1,000 victims of phone hacking.

Scores of claims have been made against the News Of The World and many of the cases have been settled already with payouts totalling millions of pounds.

The most high-profile case involved the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone and cost the paper £3m.

Actress Sienna Miller reportedly received £100,000 and her former boyfriend Jude Law is also among the many celebrities to have won a substantial payout from News Group.

Politicians including former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott and Respect MP George Galloway have also been paid compensation.

This latest revelation that hacking was allegedly going on at a rival newspaper group will, temporarily at least, take the spotlight off the wrongdoing at the News Of The World.

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Jimmy Savile: BBC Boss Faces MPs Over Scandal

BBC boss George Entwistle will later be questioned by MPs about the organisation's handling of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse claims.

The director-general faces the Culture, Media and Select Committee hours after the BBC broadcast a Panorama investigation looking at why a Newsnight programme about the allegations was dropped.

The corporation is battling what has been called its "biggest crisis in 50 years" after claims about decades of alleged child abuse by Savile, who died in October last year.

The allegations about the Jim'll Fix It star only fully emerged when ITV broadcast a documentary at the start of this month.

It sparked immediate questions about how the BBC lost their scoop and accusations of a cover-up - as well as major concerns about why the claims were never properly looked into when Savile was alive.

Mr Entwistle will be asked why the Newsnight investigation was axed shortly before tribute programmes to the presenter were shown over the Christmas period.

And he will also face questions about the culture at the BBC at the time of the allegations, its vetting procedures and the existing policies on sexual harassment.

Police have called Savile a sexual predator

The broadcaster has already admitted that the account given by Newsnight editor Peter Rippon was "inaccurate or incomplete" and he has stepped aside to focus on preparing for the inquiry.

Panorama's own investigation into the affair highlighted the different explanations given by BBC bosses about the nature of the original Newsnight investigation and why it was dropped.

Once the claims emerged, Mr Entwistle wrote to all staff to insist that the show had been about "Surrey Police's inquiry into Jimmy Savile towards the end of 2011".

But Newsnight producer Meirion Jones insisted it had been looking into whether the star was a paedophile.

"We didn't know that Surrey Police had investigated Jimmy Savile - no-one did - that was what we found when we investigated and interviewed his victims," he said.

Mr Jones and reporter Liz MacKean both appeared in the Panorama documentary and said they had interviewed at least four alleged victims of Savile.

They confirmed with Surrey Police that they had investigated sex abuse complaints against the presenter and DJ in 2007.

Panorama reported that Newsnight bosses had wanted its reporters to stand up a suggestion that Savile was not prosecuted because the CPS thought he was too old and frail.

Once they told bosses the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had not charged Savile due to a lack of evidence, they were told to end the investigation and the show was withdrawn, they said.

Mr Entwistle, then the director of vision, also apparently had a brief conversation with BBC director of news Helen Boaden on December 2 about the Newsnight programme.

She told him he might have to change the Christmas schedules if it went ahead, because of the planned tributes.

It has now emerged that Surrey police found evidence of "three further potential offences" during its investigation but did not do more because "evidence showed none of the alleged victims would support a prosecution".

Newsnight editor Peter Rippon

Ms MacKean said: "Ever since the decision was taken to shelve our story, I've not been happy with public statements made by the BBC. I think they're very misleading about the nature of the investigation we were doing."

She added: "I was very unhappy the story didn't run because I felt we'd spoken to people who collectively deserved to be heard and they weren't heard and I thought that was a failing... I felt very much that I'd let them down."

She said she had been left with the impression that Mr Rippon was feeling under pressure, writing to a friend: "PR (Peter Rippon) says if the bosses aren't happy... (he) can't go to the wall on this one."

Mr Jones warned Mr Rippon what would happen if the investigation was dropped and insisted it stood up as it was.

"I was sure the story would come out one way or another and that, if it did, the BBC would be accused of a cover-up," he told Panorama.

"In fact, I wrote an email to Peter saying 'the story is strong enough' and the danger of not running it is 'substantial damage to BBC reputation'."

A Panorama statement said: "Peter Rippon has always maintained the story was pulled for 'editorial reasons' and not because of a potentially embarrassing clash with planned BBC tributes to Savile over Christmas.

"Panorama has found no evidence to contradict that view."

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BBC 'In Crisis' Over Jimmy Savile Scandal

The BBC is said to be facing "its worst crisis for 50 years", as a documentary lifts the lid on the extent to which senior managers of the corporation were aware of the Sir Jimmy Savile abuse claims.

A special edition of Panorama reveals fresh evidence about what the BBC knew of Savile's decades of child abuse and its investigation into why Newsnight spiked its probe into the scandal, sparking allegations of a cover-up.

The BBC flagship programme, which airs tonight, examines why corporation chiefs - including the director-general - gave different explanations why Newsnight was dropped and what it was about.

Newsnight editor Peter Rippon maintains the piece - which was due to run last December - was pulled for editorial reasons, and not because the potentially damaging revelations coincided with a planned tribute to the star.

But the hour-long documentary will hear from Newsnight producer Meirion Jones and reporter Liz MacKean, who both claim they had interviewed at least four alleged victims of Savile - and confirmed with Surrey Police that officers had investigated sex abuse complaints against the Jim'll Fix It star in 2007.

The journalists say that, when they told bosses the Crown Prosecution Service did not charge Savile because of insufficient evidence, they were told to end the investigation - and the show was withdrawn.

BBC director-general George Entwistle said it would be "inappropriate" for him to comment ahead of the broadcast, as he has not yet seen the programme. He added: "There will be a BBC statement later this morning touching upon some of the issues raised".

Questions over how director-general George Entwistle has handled the crisis

The programme also calls into question Mr Entwistle's handling of the crisis in the days after it broke.

On October 5, Mr Entwistle wrote an email to all staff about the crisis the corporation found itself engulfed in, saying "the BBC Newsnight programme investigated Surrey Police's enquiry into Jimmy Savile towards the end of 2011".

But Meirion Jones sent an email reply to Mr Entwistle on the same day taking issue with his account.

He wrote: "George - one note - the investigation was into whether Jimmy Savile was a paedophile - I know because it was my investigation. We didn't know that Surrey Police had investigated Jimmy Savile - no-one did - that was what we found when we investigated and interviewed his victims."

The abuse stories about Savile only fully emerged after ITV broadcast a documentary at the start of this month - sparking controversy at the BBC over losing its scoop and leading to the cover-up allegations.

Panorama said it has failed to find evidence of a "BBC cover-up" over the Newsnight decision.

In a statement, the programme said: "Peter Rippon has always maintained the story was pulled for 'editorial reasons' and not because of a potentially embarrassing clash with planned BBC tributes to Savile over Christmas.

"Panorama has found no evidence to contradict that view."

But the BBC's veteran foreign affairs editor John Simpson said of the fallout: "This is the worst crisis that I can remember in my nearly 50 years at the BBC. I don't think the BBC has handled it terribly well.

"I mean I think it's better to just come out right at the start and say we're going to open everything up and then we're going to show everybody everything.

"All we have as an organisation is the trust of the people the people that watch us and listen to us and, if we don't have that, if we start to lose that, that's very dangerous I think for the BBC."

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Cardiff Hit-And-Runs: Man Charged With Murder

A man is due to appear in court charged with the murder of a mother-of-three who died in an apparent hit-and-run attack in Cardiff.

The 31-year-old, who police have not named, has also been charged with 13 counts of attempted murder and four counts of assault, as well as dangerous driving.

The charges were announced just hours after hundreds of people grieved for Karina Menzies, 31, at a church service in the city.

She was killed on Friday when she was hit by a white van outside Ely Fire Station.

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said: "South Wales Police has been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the community.

"We wish to express our sincere thanks to the many people who have come forward to give information, provide witness accounts, and offer both CCTV and mobile phone footage of Friday's traumatic and tragic events.

"While a man has been charged, the investigation is still very much ongoing and we still appeal for anyone with information to contact the incident room at Cardiff Central Police Station."

The man will appear at Cardiff Magistrates' Court.

Candles were lit for the victims at a Cardiff church

Hundreds of people gathered to share their grief at the church and prayer service on Sunday.

The raw emotion in the Welsh capital was evident as 200 people held a minute's silence for Ms Menzies.

Reverend Jan Gould led a special service at the Church of the Resurrection in Ely, breaking down before the packed congregation.

She said from the pulpit: "Whether we've personally known one or more of the victims of Friday's terrible events, or whether we are here as a member of this community simply wanting to show solidarity, there can be no one who has not been profoundly affected by what has happened here this week.

"This must surely be perhaps the deepest grief we have shared as a community.

"This grief, of Karina's tragic death ... has broken the heart of our community, and the healing work that is now to be done will take a very, very long time.

"We will never be the same again as a community - for how can we not be changed after such a tragedy."

In her service, Ms Gould pleaded with her 600-strong congregation to respond to the events with love.

"The only way that we can move forward into the future with hope is by responding to this suffering the same way Jesus did - with love," she said.

"Not malice, not hatred, not revenge. Not taking the law into our own hands - that's what our justice system is for."

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Tebbit: 'PM Incompetent Over Mitchell Row'

David Cameron has been criticised by Conservative grandee Lord Tebbit following Andrew Mitchell's resignation as chief whip.

He said the Prime Minister had allowed "this dog of a coalition Government" to look incompetent.

Accused of calling police officers "plebs" when they would not let him leave Downing Street on his bicycle through the main gates, Mr Mitchell finally quit his Cabinet post on Friday.

Despite the unequivocal support of Mr Cameron, Mr Mitchell admitted that the ongoing row had made his position untenable.

Writing in The Observer, Lord Tebbit said: "This dog of a coalition Government has let itself be given a bad name and now anybody can beat it.

"It has let itself be called a Government of unfeeling toffs. Past governments have had far more real Tory toffs: prime ministers Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Macmillan, or even in Thatcher's day, Whitelaw, Soames, Hailsham, Carrington, Gowrie, Joseph, Avon, Trenchard and plenty more, without incurring similar abuse."

He added: "The abiding sin of the Government is not that some ministers are rich, but that it seems unable to manage its affairs competently."

Andrew Mitchell resigned on Friday

A Cabinet minister in Margaret Thatcher's government, Lord Tebbit said Mr Cameron needed to impose "some managerial discipline not just on his colleagues but on himself".

The criticism comes amid reports that Mr Mitchell decided to step down after younger Tory MPs from the 2010 intake made clear their hostility when Parliament returned this week.

Many were dismayed that the row dragged on for so long and that Mr Mitchell - who did not attend the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham earlier this month - had not been sacked by the PM.

It has been a disastrous week for Mr Cameron following Mr Mitchell's decision to quit and reports George Osborne tried to sit in a first class train carriage with only a standard ticket - claims which have been firmly rejected by the Chancellor.

He will attempt to shore up his authority and move on from recent events in a speech next week in which he will call for a new "tough but intelligent" approach to law and order.

A ComRes opinion poll, carried out for The Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror, revealed Labour are now eight percentage points ahead of the Tories.

The Lib Dems were in a distant third with just 10% of those polled opting for the party.

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Prayers For Hit-And-Run Dead And Injured

A special church service will be held today for the 14 victims of a series of hit-and-run attacks in Cardiff, which left a mother of three dead and 13 others injured.

Karina Menzies, 32, was killed after she was knocked down during one of the collisions involving a white van outside a fire station in the Ely area of the city on Friday.

Thirteen others were injured in the crashes on the streets of the Welsh capital. Two of the injured adults are in a critical condition and five children are also receiving treatment.

The service, at Church of the Resurrection on Grand Avenue, will take place from 5pm.

Adam and Annie Lewis were walking with their daughter when they were hit

Meanwhile, detectives were last night granted a further 36 hours to question a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

Officers are also appealing for information about a mystery car seen driving on the wrong side of the road shortly before the crashes.

The black Renault Clio was seen on Western Avenue, not far from Cowbridge Road West, where one crash happened. There were no full registration details for the Clio but officers said it carried an 05 plate.

CCTV images show the moment a white van swerved across four lanes of traffic, mounted the kerb and crashed into Adam and Annie Lewis and their two-year-old daughter, Amelia-May.

Ms Menzies, 32, was killed on Friday after being knocked down

Amelia-May's grandmother, Maureen Lewis, said the toddler was catapulted from her pushchair into the air and suffered injuries to her face. She said Annie suffered a broken leg.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley confirmed reports that the suspect left his vehicle and physically assaulted people between the crashes and also carried a weapon.

It is believed the weapon was a steering wheel lock.

The officer said: "We are aware the suspect assaulted people outside his vehicle," and he added police were "looking to identify and recover" the weapon.

Father Adam Lewis (top), mother Annie (right) and two-year-old Amelia-May

He said no firearm was involved and there was no suggestion anyone had been stabbed.

According to unconfirmed reports, police are also investigating whether the driver was involved in a domestic incident before the rampage.

The horrific events began when police received calls about an incident in Crossways Road in Ely at 3.30pm.

This was soon followed by other reports of hit-and-run collisions in several locations in the west of the city, including Grand Avenue, Cowbridge Road West and the Leckwith Retail Park.

Police were called to five locations in Cardiff

Seventy officers are working on the investigation.

Floral tributes were laid at the scene where Ms Menzies was killed.

Among those paying their respects was local Labour MP Kevin Brennan.

He said: "Karina was a well-liked mother who had three children. One of her children is disabled and is currently on a dream holiday in Florida."

The white van pictured after being stopped by police

Ely sub-postmaster Shady Taha, 29, had just served two girls aged about 10 and a woman in her mid-20s moments before one of the hit-and-runs in Grand Avenue, immediately outside a row of shops.

He said: "All of a sudden I heard a bang. I looked out and across the road one girl was on the floor and the other girl was screaming. I heard a van speed off but I did not see it."

Lynda Paterson, who lives in Cowbridge Road West, described the scene outside her house as chaotic.

"I was going to pick my children up from school and I could see there were police and someone was lying on the floor, on the pavement."

Other eyewitnesses said pedestrians were deliberately targeted by someone driving a white van.

The crime scenes included Ely fire station, an area near the Merrie Harrier pub in Llandough on the outskirts of Cardiff, where the suspect was arrested, and Leckwith Retail Park - next to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Ms Menzies' brother, Craig Menzies, told Radio 5 Live that she died trying to save the lives of her children.

Describing the moment the van careered towards them, he said: "He went through the traffic, aimed for them and then just hit them head on.

"She just screamed and threw them out of the way as much as she could. He still clipped them but she took it head-on. She saved their lives."

He told the programme it was "a waste of a life".

He added: "She was the world to me. She was my best friend. She was a lively, bubbly person. There's just so many good things you could say about her.

"We'll all be lost without her."

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Cardiff Hit-And-Runs: Tributes To Dead Mother

Tributes have been paid to a mother of three who died in a series of hit-and-run crashes in Cardiff, which also left seven children injured.

The woman was named locally as 32-year-old mother Karina Menzies, who died after she was knocked down outside a fire station in the Welsh capital.

A 31-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of murder, remains in police custody for questioning in the wake of the collisions, which occurred at five different locations in the Ely and Leckwith areas.

A total of seven children and four adults were injured in the crashes.

Friends of Miss Menzies have expressed their grief on social networking sites.

Facebook user Katy Johanna Benson wrote: "Rest in piece (sic) Karina Menzies. Sleep tight beautiful angel and may the scum responsible for this senseless, evil murder be brought to justice. Cant (sic) imagine what her family are feeling."

The drama began when South Wales Police received calls about an accident on Crossways Road in Ely at 3.30pm on Friday.

One eyewitness reported a woman being dragged along underneath the vehicle suffering terrible injuries.

Police were called to five locations in Cardiff

There were soon reports of hit-and-run collisions in several locations in the west of the city, including Grand Avenue, Cowbridge Road West and the Leckwith Retail Park.

Ely sub-postmaster Shady Taha, 29, served two girls and a young woman moments before one of the hit-and-runs in Grand Avenue, immediately outside a row of shops.

He said the two girls, aged about 10, and a woman in her mid-20s had been browsing the birthday cards in the store before buying a jar of coffee and leaving.

"All of a sudden I heard a bang. I looked out and across the road one girl was on the floor and the other girl was screaming," he said.

"I heard a van speed off but I did not see it."

Other residents said pedestrians were deliberately targeted by someone driving a van.

Ramesh Patel, who runs RM Patel Convenience Stores on Cowbridge Road West, said: "I was in the shop working at the time so I didn't actually see anything but customers have said a white van purposely drove at people.

Police examine the scene of one of the crashes

"Obviously, when someone tries to run you down deliberately that is frightening, not pleasant at all.

"I was working here in the store so I didn't see that myself but that is what most people who have come in here have said. People seem very shocked."

Superintendent Julian Williams said the suspect was arrested while driving a white Iveco transit van and was taken to Cardiff Bay police station.

"Whether the actions were deliberate or reckless is a matter for the inquiry and the person will obviously be spoken to," he added.

The injured were taken to the city's University Hospital of Wales, where the A&E department was initially shut to anyone not involved in the crashes, but has since reopened.

Dr Grahame Shortland, medical director at the hospital, said those being treated mostly had fractures and head injuries.

Cardiff NHS had appealed for blood donors in the immediate aftermath.

Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan said the people of the city were "waking up to a nightmare that's all too real".

He added: "I don't think anyone can quite believe the events that were witnessed in and around this area."

South Wales Police is asking anyone with any information on the collisions to contact them on 01656 655555.

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