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Friday, 20 April 2012

Rooney To Sue Over Alleged Phone Hacking

Footballer Wayne Rooney is among the latest group of celebrities to sue after their phones were allegedly hacked by the now defunct News of the World.
The footballer's action against News Group Newspapers is one of 46 cases, many launched in the last few days, due to be heard at the High Court in London next February.
Other famous names include his Manchester United teammate Ryan Giggs, singer James Blunt, former PM Tony Blair's wife Cherie Blair, actor James Nesbitt and David Beckham's father Ted Beckham.
Counsel Hugh Tomlinson QC told Mr Justice Vos there were a total of 4,791 potential victims, of whom the police had contacted 1,892. Officers believed 1,174 were likely to be victims.
The judge emphasised the importance of budgeting after hearing £10m in costs had so far been incurred in individual cases.
He said it was "unbelievable" that 55 different firms of solicitors were representing 100 claimants, and urged those considering action to instruct lawyers who already had specialist knowledge of the litigation.
Rupert Murdoch, head of parent company News International, shut down the News of the World last July after it emerged the paper had hacked the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
Since then dozens of celebrities and other individuals have filed lawsuits against News Group and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.
News International has settled dozens of claims including those of singer Charlotte Church, publicist Max Clifford and actress Sienna Miller.
Mulcaire was jailed for six months in January 2007 after pleading guilty to hacking voicemails on phones owned by aides to the Royal Family, including messages left by Prince William.
After Friday's hearing, lawyers Atkins Thomson issued a register of the names of the individuals who have issued claims in this second round of the litigation. Not all are well-known.
Here is the list in full:
Public relations consultant Nicola Phillips; Elle Macpherson's former adviser Mary-Ellen Field; footballer Ryan Giggs; police officer and Crimewatch presenter Jacqui Hames and husband David Cook; singer James Blunt; former royal butler Paul Burrell; footballer Peter Crouch; his wife Abigail Clancy; ex-boxer Chris Eubank; politician Nigel Farage; footballer Kieron Dyer; golfer Colin Montgomerie's ex-wife Eimear Cook; Andrew Gilchrist; presenter Jamie Theakston; Jade Goody's former partner Jeff Brazier; cleared murder suspect Colin Stagg; former prime minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie Blair; Duncan Foster; Karron Stephen-Martin; Alexandra Jane Macadam Best; Joyce Matheson; footballer David Beckham's father Ted Beckham; Matthew Doyle; Patricia Bernal; comedian Robert Nankeville (Bobby Davro) and Trudi Nankeville; campaigner Jane Winter and British Irish Rights Watch; Gemma Louise Abbey; Lord David John Blencathra; rugby player and TV presenter Matt Dawson; Ian Richard Johnson; Jeffrey Alan Jones; actor James Nesbitt; Benedict Grant Noakes; Sir John Major's former daughter-in-law Emma Noble; Lucy Jane Taggart; Patrick Anthony Culhane; Lily Anne Colvin; footballer Kevin Moran; Robert Ashworth; Georgina James; Barry James; Michelle Bayford, Steve Bayford (senior), Steve Bayford (junior) and Jill Burchnall; Edward Blum; footballer Wayne Rooney; agent Paul Stretford.
Mr Tomlinson said that the 46th issued claim was on behalf of footballer Jermaine Jenas.

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