Former News of the World journalist James Fletcher has accepted “substantial” damages – from his former employers over the phone hacking scandal.
The PR consultant was one of the 144 people – including The Duchess of York and Cherie Blair who last week agreed to settle with News International.
Fletcher was allegedly targeted by The News of the World whilst he worked FOR The News of the World as their Chief Northern Football Writer in Manchester.
It is a staggering twist to a saga that has shocked the world – and already cost Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation an incredible £216 million.
Fletcher, said: “To say it was a surprise to discover that I was a potential victim – during a period in which I worked for the newspaper – is an understatement to say the least.
“At first I just presumed there had been a mistake. I was contacted by the Metropolitan Police and told I was potentially a victim. The whole idea seemed totally preposterous.
“Unfortunately it appears the information was accurate though we don’t, and probably won’t ever, really understand what was going on or why?
“I can only presume that my relationship with high profile sportsmen, particular footballers at Manchester United, Manchester City and within the England football team was particularly of interest?
“Part of my former role as a football writer was to ensure they, the footballers, trusted me. That mean’t I was fortunate enough to socialise with a number of them.
Scandal or Gossip
“My role as a football writer with The News of the World was to write about football, not scandal or gossip and maybe that was the lure?
“Maybe they were hoping David Beckham or Wayne Rooney or Sir Alex Ferguson may have left a message of interest? Who knows?
“The whole thing seems totally crazy! Yet it also makes me feel really angry. I clearly had no idea at the time and to think now that your own teammates – which is what we were supposed to be – were potentially spying on you is scandalous.”
Fletcher left The News of the World in 2007 and has since founder PR Consultancy Onside PR, based in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Since leaving The News of the World he has worked with the Professional Footballers Association, a number of Premiership footballers and consumer clients.
PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor – who Fletcher worked with during the PFA’s Centenary Year – was paid £700,000 in costs and damages by News International after his phone was hacked.
The list of victims includes high profile celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Sven Goran Eriksson, Wayne Rooney, Sienna Miller and now Onside founder Fletcher.
Phone Hacking
News Corporation had spent more than £216 million up until the end of 2012 in costs related to phone-hacking. That figure – will increase further with the latest tranche of settlements – and more set to follow.
“I can’t discuss the details of our agreement though an apology will be read out in court,” Fletcher added.
“There is no pleasure to be gained personally from any of this, particularly as a number of my former friends and colleagues are facing serious criminal charges.
“Every day it seems the saga drags out and plumbs new depths. There is no doubt that some of the activity that took place was totally shocking and completely outrageous but there are also a huge amount of innocent victims in all of this.
“Aside from those that were ‘hacked’ there hundreds of great journalists and production staff who, through no fault of their own, lost their jobs when The News of the World closed in 2011 and they should not be forgotten.”
Fletcher was represented by law firm Taylor Hampton, the lawyers who represented Taylor on a number of other victims in the phone hacking scandal.
Celebrities including Charlotte Church (£600,000), actor Jude Law (£130,000), former Labour deputy leader Lord Prescott (£40,000), Labour MPs Chris Bryant (£30,000) and Denis MacShane (£32,500) have all received compensation.
The latest tranche of 144 claimants which included Fletcher, the Duchess of York, Cherie Blair and former paymaster Geoffrey Robinson have all agreed private settlements.
A High Court hearing will follow in which lawyers for News International will apologise to Fletcher in a public statement.
News International still face a number of damages cases. Ex-boxer Chris Eubank, Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell, ex nanny Louise Woodward and Crimewatch presenter Jacqui Hames and American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe are all taking action.
