UK phone hacking scandal timeline

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188129.html

Although the storm surrounding News of the World and Rupert Murdoch's influence in British establishment has now capture almost entire media , the hacking scandal dates back to a few years ago.

August 8, 2006:

Police arrest the News of the World's royal editor, Clive Goodman, and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, over the accusations that they hacked into the mobile phones of members of the royal household.

January 2007:

Clive Goodman jailed for four months and Glenn Mulcaire for six months, after they admitted intercepting messages on royal aides' phones. Andy Coulson resigns as News of the World's editor, claiming to know nothing about the hacking.

July 2007:

Andy Coulson chosen to be the communications director for the Conservative-led government under David Cameron.

July 2009:

The Guardian newspaper initiates making a range of accusations against the News of the World, revealing their illegal actions refer to much further than the 2007 royal phone hacking. The allegations demonstrates that several politicians, athletes and celebrities were the victim of a similar hack.

September 2009:

Scotland Yard confirms suspected hacking victims were found in the royal household, government, and police.

February 2010:

A report published by the Guardian reveal that the country's three major phone companies had found that customers in 2007 had their voice mails hacked by Goodman and Mulcaire.

December 2010:

Andy Coulson's allegations are dropped, since there was not enough evidence. The charges sprang from allegations that Coulson had confirmed the plan to hack into Prince William's phone messages.

January 2011:

Scotland Yard begins a fresh inquiry after receiving significant new information from the News of the World's publisher, News International. Meanwhile, the paper dismisses its assistant editor ,Ian Edmondson, for hacking actress Sienna Miller's cell phone.

Andy Coulson announces he will step aside as Prime Minister's communications advisor, because of frequent condemnation over the phone hacking coverage.

July 4, 2011:

The Guardian reveals that the UK tabloid News of the World meddled the police investigation into the disappearance of Milly's in March 2002, by hacking into the 13-year old's cellphone.

Her family's lawyer Mark Lewis issues a statement, calling the phone hacking "heinous" and "despicable,” since it offered the family false hope that she was alive.

July 5, 2011:

Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the News of the World, publishes a statement claiming she was “appalled” and “shocked” when she heard about the phone hacking. She was the editor at the time of Milly's disappearance.

Glenn Mulcaire also issues a statement expressing his regret for anyone hurt by his activity. Claiming he never planned to interfere with police investigation.

July 6, 2011:

Prime Minister David Cameron announces public inquiry into the scandal.

Rupert Murdoch considers the phone hacking allegations as ''deplorable and unacceptable'' but says Rebekah Brooks will continue as the company's chief executive.

July 7, 2011:

UK police ask for public's patience as the investigators call nearly 4,000 potential hacking victims.

Prime Minister David Cameron was under constant pressure from the UK politicians and critics for having close relationship with the news of the World's high ranking executives.

News International announces it is to close the News of the World tabloid due to the phone hacking scandal.

James Murdoch, leading the newspaper's European operations, says the 168-year-old newspaper will make its last publication on Sunday.