Former Daily Mail Reporter Denies Allegations of Deceiving Doreen Lawrence
Stephen Wright, a former reporter for the Daily Mail, has vehemently denied accusations that he ordered a private investigator to deceive Doreen Lawrence, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence. In a high court appearance, Wright branded the claims as "absolute cobblers" and stated they had "completely devastated" him.
Background of the Case
Wright played a key role in the Daily Mail's long-running campaign for justice following the 1993 murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence. He is now among the journalists accused of using private investigators to employ unlawful methods, such as phone hacking and "blagging"—using deception to obtain information. These allegations are part of a broader legal action brought by Doreen Lawrence and six others against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.
ANL has denied all allegations, which include phone hacking, tapping, and blagging. In court, Wright described the accusations as the "most despicable allegation put to any journalist" and insisted he had never engaged in such activities.
Evidence and Testimony
The high court was presented with a recording of private investigator Christine Hart, who allegedly admitted to "100% blagging" information from Lawrence on Wright's orders by pretending to be a Guardian journalist. However, ANL's written submissions noted that Hart has since denied carrying out any illegal activity for the publisher's journalists.
Wright acknowledged being aware of Hart but remembered her as a freelance journalist who pitched stories he did not use. He firmly denied ever asking her to blag information about Lawrence, telling David Sherborne, the lead barrister for the claimants—which include Prince Harry and Elton John—that the allegations were "scraping the bottom of the cesspit."
Wright's Defense and Emotional Impact
In a written submission, Wright expressed "utmost respect" for Doreen Lawrence and said he was proud to be considered a "professional ally" by her. He detailed the emotional toll of the allegations, stating he had to improve security measures at his home due to fears of backlash. Wright emphasized, "I have never bugged, burgled or 'blagged' information about Lady Lawrence, her family members, or her legal representatives."
Sherborne pointed to evidence including Hart's alleged admission and a £75 payment record with "Wright" as a reference, but Wright maintained it did not relate to him. He also denied being a regular user of private investigators or paying police officers for information, arguing he was being portrayed as "guilty until proven innocent."
Comparisons and Closing Remarks
Wright compared some accusations to false claims made by Carl Beech, who fabricated allegations of murder and child sex abuse. He defended his work, saying, "I worked tirelessly for 25 years to help the Lawrence family to get justice for their son." He concluded by telling Sherborne, "This is nonsense. Mr Sherborne, you should be ashamed of yourself."
The case continues, with further proceedings expected to address the broader allegations against ANL and its journalists.
