Family of Jade Goody believe they were victims of phone hacking

THE family of Big Brother star Jade Goody believe they may have been the victims of phone hacking, it emerged yesterday.

Reports said the late celebrity’s mother, Jackiey Budden, believes both her and her daughter’s phone were hacked and will be going to police to report the concerns. It was said that she could not understand how journalists were getting information about the dying star, but her suspicions were raised when she read about murder victim Milly Dowler’s phone being intercepted by the News of the World.

Scotland Yard refused to comment on individual cases. News International, owners of the now defunct News of the World, also declined to comment on the allegations.

Publicist Max Clifford said that Goody’s mother believed she was targeted along with her daughter.

He said: “She will be going to the police. She believes her phone was hacked by the News of the World, and Jade’s. Jade told me: ‘I’m convinced my phone is being hacked.’”

Goody was diagnosed with cervical cancer in August 2008 and went through her illness in the public eye before her death in March 2009. It has also been revealed that former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is suing News Group Newspapers, the publishing arm of the media giant.

Papers were served at the High Court on Thursday “regarding the termination of the payment for his legal action”. A spokesman for law firm DLA Piper, which represents Mr Coulson, said: “We can confirm that proceedings have been issued.”

News International again declined to comment. It had been reported earlier this month that News International was paying DLA Piper for their legal advice to Mr Coulson following his arrest.