Murdoch Is Served (93)

THE SENTENCING BEGINS

And so Operation Elveden has reached the stage where sentences have been handed down, with former prison officer Richard Trunkfield getting 16 months for selling information about James Bulger’s killer Jon Venables. Former Police officer Alan Tierney got ten months for selling details of “two high profile people”. And another former Police officer got two years for misconduct.

That the news has been reported by the BBC, and also by the Guardian and Independent, is not news: these sources have relayed information on press wrongdoing right from the moment that Nick Davies’ investigations first went mainstream back in 2009, despite the howls of “non story” from the Murdoch supporters and other fellow travellers.

What is good to see is that the rest of the Fourth Estate is also reporting the sentences, notably the Maily Telegraph, which told additionally that Tierney sold details of footballer John Terry’s mother and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. The Tel also revealed that one of Tierney’s offences, and that of Trunkfield, took place after the hacking revelations had started.

Even Sky News (“first for breaking wind”), clearly showing some independent spirit, has reported the convictions, as has the Mail, although the item also contained a suitable counterweight of why-oh-why copy focusing on the early morning arrests of journalists including former Mirror editor Tina Weaver. Normally the Dacre attack doggies wouldn’t care about her, but she’s pregnant.

But there was no sign of any comment from the Murdoch empire. Nothing from the supposedly upmarket Times, and nothing either from the Super Soaraway Currant Bun. In fact, the Sun appears not to have as much as mentioned Operation Elveden since its inception, something that cannot possibly be down to mere chance. So which paper paid for that information?

Trunkfield and Tierney sold their information to the Sun. As Private Eye might have asked, I wonder if the two are related? I think we should be told.