Lord Justice Stevenson’s Media Trial Will Produce Heat WIth No Light
MADELEINE McCann: Kate and Gerry McCann, Labour MPs Chris Bryant, Tessa Jowell and Denis MacShane, former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Chris Shipman, the son of Harold Shipman, Max Mosley, Chris Jefferies want to be represented at an official inquiry into phone hacking. They want the opportunity to question witnesses. They want to know how the media operates.
They want to know how off-the-record briefings work. They want to know why only police sources and official lines are not enough. Mistakes are made. People have been libelled hideously.
Does it not come down to trust. Do you trust the paper or broadcaster making the report?
Lord Justice Levesons’ inquiry will allow “core participants” to be legally represented, cross-examine witnesses and make opening and closing statements.
David Cameron says public money would be available for lawyers’ fees. But money would only go to some indivuals not wealthy enough to represent themselves.
So. Newspapers seeking representation – The Express group, News International and Guardian News and Media Group – will have to fund their own cases. So too will the Metropolitan Police.
This will one will be a media show about the media. But who trains the spies? Who oversees the police? One key group are missing form the inquiry: the civil servants.
Expect useful little to come of it.
Posted: 7th, September 2011 | In: Madeleine McCann Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
