Neville Thurlbeck, the Sunday paper's chief reporter, was questioned by Scotland Yard on April 5. (AP Photo),Yui Mok
News of the World has apologized for the paper's phone-hacking scandal and announced plans to pay victims from a compensation fund of less than £20 million ($32 million). Actress Sienna Miller, former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, designer Kelly Hoppen, and sports commentator Andy Gray are among those whom News International, owned by Rupert Murdoch, will pay. Mark Lewis, a lawyer involved in several of the investigations, said the paper's apology was a "step in the right direction," and that offers will be closely examined and considered. The public apology announcement took responsibility for voicemail interception between 2004 and 2006. “Past behavior at the News of the World in relation to voicemail interception is a matter of genuine regret,” the paper said in a statement Friday. "It is now apparent that our previous inquiries failed to uncover important evidence and we acknowledge our actions were not sufficiently robust."
