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  1. Media Law
September 6, 2011

Mosley, Jefferies, McCanns to feature in Leveson Inquiry

By PA Mediapoint

The parents of missing child Madeleine McCann want to take part in the judicial inquiry into the phone hacking scandal, a court heard today.

Former Formula 1 boss Max Mosley and Chris Jefferies, the former landlord of alleged murder victim Jo Yeates, also want to be “core participants” in the Leveson Inquiry.

Inquiry officials today published a list of names and organisations set to feature in the investigation before Lord Justice Leveson.

The list includes former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, former senior Metropolitan Police officer John Yates, News International, the Guardian newspaper, Express Newspapers and the Metropolitan Police.

Barrister David Sherborne told a High Court hearing that he represented a number of “victims” who also wanted to be core participants, including the McCanns, Jefferies and Mosley.

Sherborne said they had been involved in “notorious” cases.

The barrister said he also represented another group of more than 100 “victims” whose voicemail had allegedly been intercepted.

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He said many of those had already launched legal action against News of the World publisher News Group Newspapers, which is part of News International.

Sherborne told the hearing the second group included people who did not want to be core participants but wanted to contribute to the inquiry.

He said this group included Sienna Miller, Jude Law, Hugh Grant, Ulrika Jonsson, Abi Titmus and football agent Sky Andrew.

This group also included MPs Chris Bryant, Tessa Jowell and Denis MacShane, former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, former police chief Brian Paddick and Chris Shipman, the son of killer GP Harold Shipman.

Lord Justice Leveson said “core participant” status would give people the right to be legally represented, cross-examine witnesses and make opening and closing statements.

Today’s hearing was being held to consider applications for core participant status.

Lord Justice Leveson also outlined the format planned for the inquiry, saying he would look into the “culture, practice and ethics” of the press and then, in a second stage, into the extent of any improper conduct.

The judge said he would hold a series of preliminary hearings before a main hearing.

He said the inquiry would examine the relationship between the press and the public, the press and the police and the press and politicians.

The judge said he wanted evidence from experts and members of the public.

He said he expected the inquiry to last for several months and aimed to produce a report within a year.

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