Journalist Denies Spying on Doreen Lawrence

A journalist leading a 25-year campaign for justice for Stephen Lawrence has vehemently denied allegations of spying on the murdered teenager's mother. He told the High Court that accusations of using a secret wire feed to listen to private conversations inside the Lawrence family home were 'nonsense' and that he was 'devastated' by these claims.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Stephen's mother, and Prince Harry are among seven prominent figures suing Associated Newspapers over allegations that their newspapers unlawfully gathered information. These claims include hacking voicemails, intercepting landlines, electronic surveillance, and 'blagging' private details. The journalist, a former crime editor, defended his work, stating he used legitimate sources and denied paying corrupt officers or using private detectives for illegal information gathering.

He described the allegations, which have persisted for four years, as 'despicable' and accused the claimants' legal team of 'lobbing dirt.' He expressed fear for his family's safety due to the accusations. Baroness Lawrence testified previously that she had trusted the newspaper and the journalist, but now felt lied to and 'used.'

In his witness statement, the journalist expressed profound devastation upon learning of Baroness Lawrence's allegations, struggling to comprehend how she could have been persuaded to make them, given his deep respect for her. The newspaper had notably led a significant campaign to bring Stephen's killers to justice.