Dowlers ‘pleased’ over judge-led inquiry

THE family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler met the British Prime Minister yesterday and said they were “delighted” that a full, judge-led inquiry will be held into the phone hacking scandal.

Speaking on behalf of her parents Bob and Sally and sister Gemma in Downing Street, the Dowlers’ lawyer Mark Lewis said: “The Dowler family are very grateful to the Prime Minister for another excellent meeting.

“At the start of this week the Dowler family wanted to have their voices listened to on behalf of them and on behalf of Milly and on behalf of all the other victims of unlawful activity by the press.

“There will now be a full public inquiry for the public, not a political inquiry for the politicians.

“The Dowlers are delighted that the prime minister has announced a full, judge-led inquiry, and they’re particularly pleased that politicians for all three parties have liaised and reacted so quickly in response to the outrage of the public in respect not only of Milly but all the victims of such unlawful practices by the press, and failures in the pursuit by the police and failures by the politicians.”

The family had already met Labour leader Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to discuss phone hacking.

It is alleged that Milly’s voicemail was accessed on behalf of the News of the World while she was missing, and that messages were deleted to make room for more recordings. This gave the family false hope that she was still alive.