Sutton private investigator will get appeal heard (From Your Local Guardian)

Sutton private investigator will get appeal heard

10:51am Friday 17th February 2012 in Sutton By James Pepper

The private investigator at the centre of the phone hacking scandal will have his appeal heard.

Glen Mulcaire, from Sutton, has been told by the Supreme Court he can appeal against a ruling which would make him reveal the names of reporters he hacked phones for.

The Supreme Court gave the former AFC Wimbledon footballer permission for a full appeal on May 9.

Mulcaire, 41, was jailed in January 2007 for six months along with News of the World reporter Clive Goodman for illegally accessing voicemails of members of royal aides.

The now defunct News of the World hired Mulcaire in 2001 to undertake research assignments.

Privacy cases have now been launched against News International and Glen Mulcaire by Comedian Steve Coogan and PR consultant Nicola Phillips, a former employee of the publicist Max Clifford.

As it stands, if questioned in the cases, Mulcaire would have to explain how he obtained voicemail numbers and passwords and who provided the details.

Top brass at The Sun and The Times are annoyed at parent company News Corporation giving police details of journalists sources.

The Supreme Court only deals with the most important cases where the top judges have to decide on a point of law which is of general public importance.