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Ex-Mirror Journalist Makes New Hacking Claim

Ex-Mirror Journalist Makes New Hacking Claim

A former journalist for the Daily Mirror has claimed the News Of The World was not the only British newspaper involved in phone hacking.

James Hipwell, 45, alleged the illegal practice was "endemic" at the Daily Mirror while he worked under the editorship of Piers Morgan between 1998 and 2000.

The 45-year-old claimed he saw show business reporters regularly intercept voicemail messages while he worked next to them on the paper's business section.

He told the Independent newspaper: "You know what people around you are doing.

"They would call a celebrity with one phone and when it was answered they would then hang up.

"By that stage the other phone would be into their [the celebrity's] voicemail and they would key in the code, 9999 or 0000. I saw that a lot."

Mr Hipwell said he would be willing to give evidence to the public inquiry into hacking ordered by David Cameron and headed by Lord Justice Brian Leveson.

He said the death of former News Of The World showbiz journalist Sean Hoare had been a "game-changer" in his decision to speak out.

Mr Hoare, who was found dead at his Hertfordshire home on Monday, blew the whistle on hacking at the now defunct News Of The World.

Mr Hipwell said: "He was a good bloke and I thought he was treated disgracefully. He is the only one who has had the balls to say that this was going on.

"I take the view he was right. I know he was flawed, but he was treated very badly and now he's dead. I'm sick of all the lies."

Trinity Mirror, the publisher of the Mirror, hit back at Mr Hipwell's claims saying in a statement: "Our journalists work within the criminal law and the Press Complaints Commission code of conduct."

Mr Hipwell was sacked from the Mirror in 2000 over the "City Slickers" scandal in which he was accused of buying shares before tipping them in the paper.

He was convicted of market manipulation and served 59 days in jail.

Meanwhile, witnesses who gave evidence about phone hacking in the trial of Tommy Sheridan are to be investigated over allegations that they may have committed perjury.

Strathclyde Police is looking at whether certain witnesses lied to the courts in the former MSPs own perjury trial last year as part of a "full" investigation into phone hacking in Scotland.

Among the people who gave evidence were Andy Coulson, the former NOTW editor; Bob Bird, the then editor of the Scottish edition of the newspaper; and reporter Douglas Wight.

News International has confirmed it had been contacted by police in connection with the investigation.