Private detective Glenn Mulcaire has revealed the names of News of the World staff who allegedly instructed him to carry out phone hacking, his solicitor confirmed today.
The information was passed in a letter to comedian Steve Coogan’s lawyers in accordance with a court order.
Mulcaire had applied for permission to appeal against the order, which was made in February, but this was denied and he was compelled to pass over the details by today.
His solicitor Sarah Webb, from Payne Hicks Beach, said she could not reveal who the News of the World employees were because of "confidentiality issues".
Schillings, which is representing Coogan, has agreed not to reveal the names yet, to give Payne Hicks Beach a chance to apply for a court order stopping their release.
Mulcaire was ordered to reveal who instructed him to access Coogan’s voicemails, as well as those of celebrities including PR guru Max Clifford and model Elle Macpherson.
He was jailed for six months in 2007 for intercepting messages left on royal aides’ phones.
A spokeswoman for News International said the firm had no comment.
It has also emerged that Mulcaire is suing the tabloid's parent company, News International, for ceasing to pay his legal fees.
"We confirm we have received legal action from Glenn Mulcaire," said a spokeswoman for News International, the British newspaper arm of News Corp.
News International had paid more than £240,000 in legal fees for Mulcaire since late last year, when celebrities and politicians began suing News International and Mulcaire for intercepting their voicemails.
The company stopped paying his legal fees on July 20th, after News Corp executive James Murdoch told a parliamentary committee he was surprised that News International was footing the bill.
PA/Reuters