Chairman warns leaks may compromise inquiry’s work

Lord Justice Leveson has criticised leaks from his inquiry, including this week’s revelation that Scotland Yard loaned a horse to former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks.

The Metropolitan Police informed the Leveson Inquiry on 14 February that Ms Brooks “fostered” a retired police horse called Raisa between 2008 and 2010.

Details of the loan of the animal were revealed by the Evening Standard on Tuesday, prompting fresh criticism that Scotland Yard was too close to News International.

Lord Justice Leveson warned yesterday that he could restrict advance release of witness statements to core participants: “I am disturbed about it [leaks], not only because leaks would constitute a breach of the confidentiality agreement that everybody has signed, but also because it runs the risk of disrupting the way in which this inquiry can proceed.”