James Murdoch tells the committee his testimony has been 'consistent' as he faces further questions from MPs
Chairman of News International James Murdoch has strongly disputed evidence given by former company executives to the culture select committee, insisting to MPs today that he was not made aware of evidence that phone hacking may have been more widespread earlier than 2010.
In an evidence session today Murdoch was questioned on the claims of former legal manager for News Group Newspapers – publisher of the now-defunct News of the World and the Sun – Tom Crone and the final editor of the News of the World Colin Myler, who told MPs they clearly informed Murdoch of the seriousness of the contents of what has now become known as the "for Neville" email.
Murdoch said he disputed this, adding that he had been made aware of the controversial email but did not see it himself and was not aware that it may show hacking was more widespread than first thought.
He added that in a meeting with Crone and Myler on 10 June 2008 he was given "sufficient information" to authorise the settlement of the Gordon Taylor case and "nothing more".
"I think my own testimony has been consistent," Murdoch told the committee.
"I testified with as much clarity as I possibly can. I have also gone and tried to seek answers and find out where the evidence is and what's there ... In the evidence they gave to you in 2011 with respect to my knowledge I thought it was inconsistent and not right. I dispute it."
"The amount of transparency between what was known by some individuals, if that had been more transparent to me that would have been more helpful. But it was not," he added.
Murdoch was also questioned on new evidence which emerged last week, including an opinion note from NGN's counsel Michael Silverleaf QC sent to Crone on 3 June 2008 in reference to the Taylor case. In the note Silverleaf warns of "overwhelming evidence of the involvement of a number of senior NGN journalists in the illegal enquiries" and of there being a powerful case that there is or was "a culture of illegal information access used at NGN".
Today Murdoch insisted he had only recently seen this legal opinion, and that in the June meeting he was informed only of matters relating to the level of legal settlement advised.
Murdoch added that wording in other documents revealed last week appeared to suggest concerns about raising the problems with him "because I would have said get rid of them all and I would have said cut out the cancer i.e. people who are suspected of wrongdoing we would pursue, we would hold accountable".
"I think that speaks volumes and I think it's also why perhaps I was given a narrower set of facts than I might have liked in the June 10th meeting of that year," he said.
During the evidence session MP Tom Watson disclosed that he had earlier met with former chief reporter at News of the World Neville Thurlbeck. In a transcript read out by Watson Thurlbeck is said to have been told by Crone that Murdoch was shown the email. In response to Watson Murdoch stood by his testimony that he was not shown the email, telling the committee "at no point did Mr Crone or Mr Myler discuss evidence of suspicion of wider spread phone hacking during the meeting of June 10 or otherwise".
MP Philip Davies later questioned Murdoch on why, given the high level of settlement figures being discussed in relation to the Gordon Taylor case, he did not request to see the documents for himself, observing the approach as appearing "very cavalier".
"I find it absolutely incredible that you didn't say 'how much? Let me have a look at that'".
Murdoch replied that he was given clear assurances that the case would be lost and that it was "a reasonable decision to settle that case because no other evidence came to light during that conversation".
In response to questions from MP Paul Farrelly earlier on in the session regarding the handling of the issue, Murdoch said the company "took too long to come to grips with these issues".
"With understanding what had been done and what had not been done in 2006 and 2007 with respect to its own investigations and understanding how to dispassionately look at what were perceived as attacks as opposed to legitimate criticism from the outside. Part of sharing that responsibility and taking responsibility is also making sure that those things don't happen again."
Following Murdoch's evidence Crone issued a statement to the national press insisting he did not mislead the committee.
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