Trinity Mirror admits phone-hacking liability

Trinity Mirror plc, Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers, including the Rochdale Observer and the Manchester Evening News, as well as the national titles such as the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, has admitted that some of its journalists were involved in phone hacking.

It admitted liability and will pay compensation to Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin and BBC creative director Alan Yentob who sued for the alleged hacking of voicemails.

Six other phone-hacking claims have already been settled: former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, footballer Garry Flitcroft, actor Christopher Ecclestone, showbusiness agent Phil Dale, Richie's wife Christine Roche and Abbie Gibson, a former nanny of David and Victoria Beckham.

A further 19 claims are registered at the High Court and another 10 claimants have indicated they will bring proceedings against Trinity Mirror.

The company is thought to have set aside £8m to £9m to settle phone hacking claims and legal costs.

Trinity Mirror said in a statement: "The company today confirms that its subsidiary MGN Ltd has admitted liability to four individuals who had sued MGN for alleged interception of their voicemails many years ago.

"MGN has apologised to those individuals and agreed to pay compensation. The amount of that compensation will be assessed by the court if it cannot be agreed.

"The company can also confirm that six other voicemail interception claims have already been settled for agreed sums."

We wish to make it clear there is no suggestion that Rochdale Observer or Manchester Evening News reporters were involved in phone hacking.