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Andy Coulson
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson. Photograph: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson. Photograph: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

News International must pay Andy Coulson legal fees, appeals court rules

This article is more than 11 years old
Ex-News of the World editor wins appeal over bills arising out of investigations into phone hacking and payments to officials

Andy Coulson has won his legal battle to force News International to continue paying his legal fees relating to criminal investigations into alleged illegal activity at the News of the World while he was editor.

The former editor, who was subsequently David Cameron's director of communications, won his appeal against an earlier high court ruling over his legal bills arising out of police investigations into phone hacking and payments to public officials.

Three senior court of appeal judges ruled: "I am satisfied that clause 4.6 does cover Mr Coulson's costs and expenses of defending the criminal allegations."

Coulson has been charged on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept voicemails, payments to police and public officials and perjury. He denies any wrongdoing.

The court of appeal ruling was handed down by Lord Justice Laws, Lord Justice Sullivan and Lord Justice McCombe.

News International said it would not appeal the decision to the supreme court.

Explaining why they overturned the earlier ruling, Laws said in the judgment: "I cannot accept the judge's view that because Mr Coulson's duties as editor comprised only lawful duties, it cannot have been identified that activities outside his lawful responsibilities would be covered by the indemnity ... That would surely deprive the indemnity of all practical use. "It would not even cover the editor for the costs of defending proceedings arising out of the publications of alleged libels or publications said to constitute contempt of court, the very occupational hazards of editorship referred to by Mr Jeans [for News International] in argument."

The judges said News International was liable for Coulson's legal costs from the moment he was first arrested, on 8 July 2011, to the conclusion of the criminal trial scheduled for next year.

This article was amended on Thursday 29 November. The original article stated News International said it would appeal the decision to the supreme court. It has been amended to state that News International would not appeal.

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