THE RUPERT Murdoch-controlled News International group may have to pay victims of phone-hacking considerably more than £100 million in compensation, a top lawyer has warned, following the emergence of dozens of new claims.
In the last week, 24 claimants, including Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, and singer Danni Minogue, have lodged papers claiming that News of the Worldjournalists listened in to their voicemails. Hundreds of other claims are now expected to follow in coming weeks as alleged victims move to get their applications in before the hearing of five cases begins before Mr Justice Vos in the High Court in January.
On Monday alone, 13 writs were received, including ones from Sara Payne, whose daughter, Sarah, was murdered and Paul Dadge, whose picture appeared around the world after he helped victims of the London 7/7 terrorist attack in 2005.
So far, 63 people have issued writs, but just 200 of the 4,000 listed in files seized by police from the News of the World-hired private investigator Glenn Mulcaire have been contacted to date by detectives, so the number is expected to increase dramatically.
News International, which paid £3 million in compensation and legal fees to the family of murder victim Milly Dowler, has put aside £20 million to settle cases, but top lawyer Mark Lewis said he thought the cost would exceed £100 million.
“So far, fewer than 5 per cent of the victims of Glenn Mulcaire have been notified. He was just one agent used by one paper. When the final tally takes place, we will see thousands of claims and more than one paper,” he said.
The 63 on the list to date include former Labour Party aide Alastair Campbell and politicians John Prescott, Simon Hughes, Denis MacShane, Chris Bryant, Mark Oaten, George Galloway and Tessa Jowell.
Media lawyer Niri Shan said the company might overpay in early cases to get rid of claimants. Excluding cases wrapped up in 2007, the company has settled two cases this year – with actress Sienna Miller, who received £100,000 in compensation and legal costs, and former footballer Andy Gray, who received £20,000 plus costs.