George Galloway says news giant will offer him phone hacking compensation

Published on Monday 11 April 2011 15:03

Former MP George Galloway yesterday said lawyers for News International were "days away" from seeing evidence he claims shows his phone was hacked by a private investigator working for the News of the World.

The Holyrood candidate said the company's legal team had sent him a letter that "says they are sorry about having done this to various people - it doesn't quantify them nor qualify them".

He said News International lawyers would look at his evidence, and consider whether the publisher accepted liability.

He added: "About my case: when they have seen the disclosure that we have been shown, they will make an appropriate offer of compensation. In my own case they are only days away from having that information, and when they have it they really don't have any defence."

Last week, Mr Galloway said he had seen "incontrovertible" evidence his phone had been hacked. He said he was shown a document taken from the home of the investigator, which included his name, mobile number and security pin details, plus the names of those who had left messages and an outline of their contents. Mr Galloway is suing the News of the World for breach of privacy.

News International wrote to eight victims of phone hacking, including actress Sienna Miller and former culture secretary Tessa Jowell, on Friday, apologising and admitting liability.

Holyrood 2011 coverage in full

• Margo MacDonald: State schools facing influx of private pupils

• Public backs cutting wait for cancer care

• George Galloway says news giant will offer him phone hacking compensation

• Ed Balls says election gives Scots chance to rebuke the coalition

• Annabel Goldie aims to lick opposition with council tax referendum promise

• Constituent warms to SNP's John Swinney

• Tavish Scott gets up close and personal

• Leader: They're Game for a Laugh … and your votes count

• Ewan Crawford: Independence issue off the air but on the horizon

The company said it has instructed its lawyers to set up a compensation scheme to deal with "justifiable claims", insisting that "past behaviour" at the newspaper was "a matter of genuine regret".

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that News International has written to another nine claimants in the scandal, asking them to provide further evidence journalists intercepted their voicemails.

It has been estimated that News International has set aside 20 million for pay-outs. The nine new letters "teed-up" the possibility of further admissions, sources said.

Yesterday, lawyer Charlotte Harris said up to 7,000 people may have had their mobile phone voicemails intercepted.