Murdoch tabloid ‘spied on lawyers of hacking victims’

The now-closed newspaper’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, declined to comment on allegations that private investigator Derek Webb secretly followed lawyers Mark Lewis and Charlotte Harris.

The surveillance is said to have occurred during the past 18 months while Mr Murdoch was executive chairman of News International, the Sunday tabloid’s owner.

Mr Murdoch is likely to be challenged over the claims on Thursday, when he is due to appear before a Commons select committee for the second time to answer questions about phone hacking.

He and his father Rupert first gave evidence to the inquiry in July, shortly after they decided to close the paper following revelations that it accessed and deleted voicemail messages left on the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The Guardian and the BBC programme Newsnight alleged that Mr Webb, who ran a private investigations firm called Silent Shadow, secretly video-recorded Mr Lewis and Ms Harris as well as family members, including Mr Lewis’s teenage daughter, in an attempt to find information to discredit them, Newsnight claimed.

Mr Lewis described the tactic as “Mafia like”.

Separately, Mr Lewis and Ms Harris represented Professional Footballers’ Association chairman Gordon Taylor and celebrity publicist Max Clifford, the first two victims to sue News International.

Mr Lewis also represents the Dowler family while Ms Harris acts for football agent Sky Andrew.

The surveillance took place during the past 18 months when James Murdoch was chairman.