UK scandal engulfs more newspapers

In a dramatic turn to the scandal, former journalists at the Mirror group said they witnessed phone hacking at their newspapers and that the practice was “endemic”.

So far, the allegations had clouded newspapers of the News International group, the largely affected being the now closed News of the World.

In fresh developments, James Hipwell, a former journalist of the Daily Mirror told The Independent that he would be willing to testify in front of a public inquiry into the episode headed by Justice Brian Leveson.

The BBC also quoted a former employee of the Sunday Mirror as claiming that he witnessed routine phone hacking in the newsroom, with celebrities including actress Liz Hurley and footballer Rio Ferdinand targeted.

The two newspapers were among the main competitors of News International’s tabloids.
However, Trinity Mirror defended itself against the allegations and said its journalists work within the criminal law and Press Complaints Commission code of conduct.