Sheryl Gascoigne told the inquiry journalists must do more to get facts correct before publishing, given the 'difficult' consequences
Sheryl Gascoigne told the Leveson inquiry today that she was "scared of repercussions" after talking about her experience of the press and her concerns about the effectiveness of remedies.
Gascoigne – who was married to former England footballer Paul Gascoigne – told the inquiry she accepted that by continuing to put herself in the public domain "I am asking for it", when it comes to having coverage of her in the press, but called on journalists to ensure the accuracy of reports before publishing them.
She told the inquiry that where inaccuracies were reported in relation to her it made life "difficult" for herself and her family.
"It's difficult, and for the children its difficult for them. You feel you're constantly defending yourself, they're having to do the same."
"It's not been easy to be here today," she added. "I am scared of repercussions on my family, as that has been my experience in all of this."
She also criticised the current remedial system for publishing of corrections and apologies, which she felt were often not given the same prominence as the original article.
During her evidence Gascoigne also spoke of her friendship with former chief executive of News International Rebecca Brooks, who despite not having seen her for more than 10 years she said she "wouldn't have a bad word to say about her personally".
"We had a friendship. It was purely a friendship. We did have good friendship and I considered her a very close friend. I haven't seen her or spoken to her since about 2000 … I wouldn't have a bad word to say about her personally."
The inquiry also heard Gascoigne talk about being followed by the press and times when she said she had to try and lose them while driving, adding this was "particularly bad" from 1991-1998.
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