Rupert Murdoch told the Dowler family his papers had fallen short of the standards set for him by his mother and father.
Speaking afterwards the Dowler's solicitor Mark Lewis said the Dowlers had told Murdoch his papers should "set the standard of honesty and decency in the field and not what had gone on before."
Mr Murdoch was "very humbled and very shaken" he said.
He said: "At the end of the day actions are going to speak louder than words.
"It is forgive not forget."
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