Chapman and Cloake

Jonathan Chapman (left) and Daniel Cloke giving evidence to the select committee today

Credit: Parliament TV

News International executives tasked with carrying out a review of emails in relation to former News of the World journalist Clive Goodman's employment appeal have stood by their "narrow" inquiry, insisting there were no suggestions at the time of further illegal activity.

Speaking before the culture, media and sport select committee, News International's former director of legal affairs Jonathan Chapman said he, along with Daniel Cloke, the company's former group HR director, carried out a "careful and diligent inquiry" but "narrow" following allegations of further wrongdoing by Goodman in his appeal.

"Our brief was to look for evidence of voicemail interception in relation to Goodman.

"If we came across something else then my reaction would have been at the time that we should have gone through correct procedure. My recollection is that was it, there was no other illegal activity that stood out at the time."

He added that had something appeared suspicious he "would have done something about it".

When asked if it would be fair to say there was not a full, wide-ranging investigation into
phone hacking investigation. following Goodman's appeal letter, Chapman said it was never intended to be so.

"It [the investigation] was reactive. It occurred because of a set of circumstances and was quite limited in its scope."

Also appearing before the committee Cloke said he was shocked at Goodman's allegations that others knew of the practice at the newspaper, but that he was not aware of this being "kicked any further up the chain at News Corporation".

After carrying out interviews with the subjects of these allegations Cloke added "no one admitted any wrongdoing".

"We had a situation where an ex-employee was making allegations against members of staff, we interviewed them, we trawled through emails and we sent it out to third party review (by Harbottle & Lewis). That gave me comfort as a HR director we had done the right thing."

He added that in the context of an employment dispute these were "reasonable" steps to have taken.

Both Chapman and Cloke also said they did not think there was enough of a suggestion of other criminal activity that would have warranted an expert in criminal law to assess the need for further investigation.

During the committee hearing MPs also questioned Chapman and Cloke on the decision to offer an out-of-court settlement to Goodman of reportedly around £240,000.

Chapman told the committee the decision was not taken by him, but that it was done to avoid allegations of further wrongdoing being made public.

He added that "it was a stark choice, settle at a reasonable figure or end up in tribunal".

"Any proceedings would have been several months down the line. At the proceedings Goodman would have been able to make a number of allegations in a public forum.

"This is a pragmatic and commercial business decision. Many companies pay out on employment claims of little or no merit for pragmatic reasons, because they don't want stuff to be raked up, even if they are allegations that are unfounded, those who wish to believe those allegations will believe them.

"What we were trying to do was to stop the reputational effect of a tribunal claim when allegations we believed to be unfounded would be made," he added.
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