Former Daily Mail Editor Denies Unlawful Hacking Allegations at Trial

In Brief

Paul Dacre rejects claims of illegal information gathering, says he ended such practices.

Key Facts

• Paul Dacre is the former editor of the Daily Mail newspaper
• He appeared in the High Court to respond to allegations of unlawful information gathering
• Dacre described the claims that Daily Mail staff gathered information unlawfully as 'preposterous' and 'inconceivable'
• He stated that he stopped the use of private investigators for newsgathering during his tenure
• Dacre said he put the 'shutters down' on unlawful newsgathering techniques at the Daily Mail

What Happened

Paul Dacre, former editor of the Daily Mail, appeared in the High Court to address allegations that the newspaper's staff engaged in unlawful information gathering. He denied these claims, calling them 'preposterous' and 'inconceivable'. Dacre also testified that he ended the use of private investigators and halted unlawful newsgathering practices during his leadership.

Why It Matters

The trial examines journalistic practices and ethics at a major UK newspaper, focusing on allegations of unlawful information gathering. Dacre's testimony provides insight into editorial decisions regarding newsgathering methods and the use of private investigators.