Press's crimes ruined lives, but not those of the papers' bosses

Those who oversaw the tabloid culture continue life unscathed, writes Martin Moore

- Martin Moore

Victims of the phone hacking scandal did not get their private lives back, though hundreds eventually received compensation via the courts.

As evidence has grown of endemic privacy intrusion - and not just by the News of the World - victims have taken their cases to court. The Sun refused to admit any culpability until the start of this year when - in response to legal action led by Tom Watson and Prince Harry - it finally confessed to commissioning illegal activities.

By 2024, it was estimated phone hacking had cost News Corp more than £1bn in settlements and legal fees, but the figure is still rising. Reach (formerly Trinity Mirror and owner of the Daily and Sunday Mirror) has paid out about £100m.

The evidence of systemic intrusion came to light thanks in part to whistleblowing private detectives and journalists. Once Glenn Mulcaire, Steve Whittamore, Paul McMullan, Dan Evans and others realised the papers that had hired them to hack phones and blag personal records had no intention of protecting them, they told police and victims what they had been paid to do.