Celebrities, crime victims and others who allegedly had their phones hacked could be filmed live if they give evidence to the inquiry into the scandal.
Celebrities, crime victims and others who allegedly had their phones hacked could be filmed live if they give evidence to the inquiry into the scandal.
Lord Justice Leveson yesterday signalled that the evidence sessions in the inquiry could start as early as next month, and said that he plans to have them televised.
Among those who could be called to give evidence are Sienna Miller, the actress, JK Rowling, the writer, Hugh Grant, the actor, and the parents of Madeleine McCann and Milly Dowler.
They are among a series of high-profile figures who have been confirmed as so-called “core participants”, meaning they will play a central role in the year-long inquiry.
The former Formula 1 boss Max Mosley, the former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott, the comedian Steve Coogan and the former footballer Paul Gascoigne are also on the list.
Executives from News International, the owners of the News of the World, the newspaper at the centre of the scandal, will also give evidence, an experience which a lawyer for Rupert Murdoch’s media group suggested could be “daunting” and “stressful”.
Rhodri Davies QC warned that the pressure of the inquiry could affect even those at the “top of their profession”.
Lord Leveson said those who felt “particularly anxious or nervous” could be introduced through their own counsel to get used to talking in court.
“For some, the giving of evidence is indeed a difficult exercise and I will want to make that exercise as easy an experience as possible on the basis that this is not a trial,” he said.
“I am simply looking at a series of issues to obtain a series of recommendations. I am not unmindful of the pressures of giving evidence.”
Mukul Chawla QC, representing Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive, asked if there could be some advance warning of issues that may arise which were of “direct interest” to her.
David Cameron announced the Leveson Inquiry in July in the wake of the hacking scandal. It is expected to produce a report within a year.
However, because a police investigation is ongoing into specific allegations of hacking, the inquiry will first look at the wider issues of press practices and ethics and the media’s relationship with the public, police and politicians.
The first witnesses could be heard by the middle of next month.
In preliminary discussions at the High Court yesterday, Lord Leveson said: “The present thinking is, and I am not committing to this, that we are unable to be likely to start before the second week in November.”
He told the hearing he originally wanted to press for a slightly earlier start, because of the “territory that has to be travelled before next summer”, and said he was keen to “keep the focus” because the findings of the inquiry were likely to generate debate.
“A debate among the media, a debate among the political groups and a reconsideration of the way, perhaps, regulation or self-regulation, whatever comes out, is organised, which everybody is going to want to get on with,” Lord Leveson said. He repeated assurances that the inquiry would be “open, transparent and fair”.
The first part of the inquiry will also include a series of seminars, each chaired by one of the inquiry’s assessors.
The first of those will he held tomorrow and will include brief presentations from figures including Phil Hall, the former News of the World editor, and Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian.
The seminars will also include open discussion from those in attendance, which will include a range of figures from the media and members of parliamentary select committees.
Rhodri Davies QC warned that the pressure of the inquiry could affect even those at the “top of their profession”.
Lord Leveson said those who felt “particularly anxious or nervous” could be introduced through their own counsel to get used to talking in court.
“For some, the giving of evidence is indeed a difficult exercise and I will want to make that exercise as easy an experience as possible on the basis that this is not a trial,” he said.
“I am simply looking at a series of issues to obtain a series of recommendations. I am not unmindful of the pressures of giving evidence.”
Mukul Chawla QC, representing Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive, asked if there could be some advance warning of issues that may arise which were of “direct interest” to her.
David Cameron announced the Leveson Inquiry in July in the wake of the hacking scandal. It is expected to produce a report within a year.
However, because a police investigation is ongoing into specific allegations of hacking, the inquiry will first look at the wider issues of press practices and ethics and the media’s relationship with the public, police and politicians.
The first witnesses could be heard by the middle of next month.
In preliminary discussions at the High Court yesterday, Lord Leveson said: “The present thinking is, and I am not committing to this, that we are unable to be likely to start before the second week in November.”
He told the hearing he originally wanted to press for a slightly earlier start, because of the “territory that has to be travelled before next summer”, and said he was keen to “keep the focus” because the findings of the inquiry were likely to generate debate.
“A debate among the media, a debate among the political groups and a reconsideration of the way, perhaps, regulation or self-regulation, whatever comes out, is organised, which everybody is going to want to get on with,” Lord Leveson said. He repeated assurances that the inquiry would be “open, transparent and fair”.
The first part of the inquiry will also include a series of seminars, each chaired by one of the inquiry’s assessors.
The first of those will he held tomorrow and will include brief presentations from figures including Phil Hall, the former News of the World editor, and Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian.
The seminars will also include open discussion from those in attendance, which will include a range of figures from the media and members of parliamentary select committees.
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