In a High Court appearance, former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre expressed his strong denial of accusations regarding illegal newsgathering practices at his former publication. Dacre, now editor-in-chief of DMG Media Ltd, was responding to claims from seven individuals, including Prince Harry and Sir Elton John, who are suing Associated Newspapers Limited for serious privacy violations.
Dacre characterized the allegations as "preposterous," asserting that they have negatively affected the lives of his staff over the past three years. He described his emotional response to the accusations, stating they have caused "rage" and "deeply upsetting" feelings among the staff at the Daily Mail. During the proceedings, Dacre acknowledged wanting to defend his reputation but emphasized his concern for the wellbeing of his team.
In addressing the allegations of widespread phone tapping and hacking, Dacre firmly rejected the notion that such practices were permitted during his tenure, claiming that any evidence of such behavior would have provoked a strong reaction from him. The ongoing trial continues to explore the extent of the newspaper's private investigator utilization, a topic Dacre first faced during the Leveson Inquiry over a decade ago.