Overview
- He told the court that obtaining ex-directory phone numbers was "very, very low on the Richter scale of unlawfulness" and could be justified to secure a right of reply.
- He said he "brought the shutters down" on using inquiry agents in April 2007 after a wake-up call from privacy findings, describing a hazy newsroom grasp of data laws at the time.
- He acknowledged only a "vague memory" of a box of ledgers discovered last year that lawyers say shows about £3m in payments to private investigators.
- He denied knowing how flight details for Chelsy Davy were obtained for a 2007 story about the Duke of Sussex, saying airlines were once more relaxed about sharing information.
- Seven claimants including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, Liz Hurley and Baroness Doreen Lawrence allege phone hacking, landline tapping, blagging and other unlawful acts, which ANL denies while also arguing the claims are out of time, with the trial due to conclude in March.