NOTW private detective was ‘just following orders’

THE private detective at the centre of phone-hacking allegations was an “employee” who “acted on the instructions of others”, his legal team said last night.

Glenn Mulcaire was jailed with former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman for accessing the voicemails of public figures in January 2007.

A firmly-worded statement issued by his lawyer stated any suggestion that he may have acted “unilaterally” was “untrue”.

Mulcaire has found himself facing questions over the extent of his involvement in the saga following fresh allegations that the former Sunday tabloid illegally accessed the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, 7/7 victims’ relatives and grieving military families.

Most recently, a friend of Sara Payne, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah, said she was “absolutely devastated” after being told she may have been targeted by the private investigator.

Mulcaire’s lawyers said: “Glenn Mulcaire has already expressed his sincere regret to those who have been hurt and affected by his activities and he repeats that apology most sincerely.

“He was effectively employed by News of the World from 2002 to carry out his role as a private investigator.

“As he accepted when he pleaded guilty in 2007 to charges of phone interception he admits that his role did include phone hacking.

“As an employee he acted on the instructions of others.

“There were also occasions when he understood his instructions were from those who genuinely wished to assist in solving crimes.

“Any suggestion that he acted in such matters unilaterally is untrue. In the light of the ongoing police investigation, he cannot say any more.”

The statement comes after Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp announced last week that it would stop paying Mulcaire’s legal fees “with immediate effect”.

Mulcaire, 40, from Sutton in Surrey, was jailed for six months for his role in the tapping plot in 2007.

He and Goodman — who was handed a four-month jail term — both admitted conspiracy to hack into voicemail messages, including some messages from Prince William.

Meanwhile British lawmakers demanded James Murdoch clarify why testimony he gave to a parliamentary committee probing the phone-hacking scandal conflicted with a statement from two former executives.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee said yesterday it now wanted more information.

John Whittingdale, the parliamentary committee’s chair, said he was writing to Murdoch, Myler and Crone for clarification.