Murdoch condemns phone hacking as ‘deplorable’

RUPERT Murdoch said phone hacking at one of his flagship newspapers was “deplorable and unacceptable” as David Cameron ordered a public inquiry into the scandal.

The media mogul backed Rebekah Brooks to continue as chief executive of News International despite claims that the News of the World hacked murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s phone while she was editor.

Police also told Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne that his name and home phone number appeared on notes kept by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and former News of the World reporter Clive Goodman, a spokesman for the Chancellor said. There was no suggestion his phone had been hacked, he added.