The Bishop of Manchester has added to the public condemnation of
allegations that the News of the World hacked into the voicemail of
murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
Speaking in the House of Lords, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch said the allegations relating to Milly Dowler were “tragic”.
He said there were “serious underlying ethical issues” that must be
addressed “as a matter of urgency”, and that the police must be “allowed
to do what they are meant to do”.
Prime Minister David Cameron has given his support to an inquiry into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.
He has caved to public pressure after weeks of resisting an inquiry
amid allegations that a private detective hired by the newspaper hacked
into Milly's voicemail.
Glenn Mulcaire illegally accessed Milly’s voice messages after her
disappearance in 2002 and even deleted some messages, giving her family
hope that she was still alive.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Cameron called the latest allegations against the newspaper “absolutely disgusting”.
He said: “We are no longer talking here about politicians and
celebrities, we are talking about murder victims, potentially terrorist
victims, having their phones hacked into.
“It is absolutely disgusting, what has taken place, and I think
everyone in this House and indeed this country will be revolted by what
they have heard and what they have seen on their television screens.”
He noted that a major police investigation is already underway into
the hacking allegations, but added: “We need to have an inquiry,
possibly inquiries, into what has happened.”