Shamed Brooks to receive €4m severance package

SHAMED former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks will receive a massive £3.5 million (€4m) severance package after quitting her post two weeks into the phone hacking scandal.

The controversial figure — who was editor of the News of the World at the time of the hackings — is understood to be in line for the huge pay-out after resigning yesterday morning.

Reports late last night said Ms Brooks’s contract guarantees the windfall on condition of a strict gagging order, preventing any public discussion over internal practices, outside of inquiries or criminal proceedings.

The sum marginally overshadows an estimated €2.27m also due to the News of the World’s final editor, Colin Myler.

A further €1.7m each will also be paid to two of the organisation’s former key lawyers, Jon Chapman and Tom Crone.

The costs are a stark comparison to the treatment of more than 200 former News of the World employees.

Mr Crone told the London Evening Standard he is looking forward to seeing his ex-bosses grilled on Tuesday, and will speak out “if they completely screw me over”.

Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal publisher and Dow Jones chief executive Les Hinton — in charge of News International during the phone-hacking claims era — also resigned from News Corp last night.

Rupert Murdoch apologised to Milly Dowler’s parents in a London hotel after they refused to allow him into their home.

It also emerged British Prime Minister David Cameron met News International executives 26 times in the 12 months since entering Downing Street.

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