Papers 'broke privacy law before'

17 July 2011 Last updated at 00:10 GMT Alex Salmond said newspapers have previously broken data protection laws The Scottish government is to urge the public inquiry into phone hacking and media regulation to consider a 2006 report on privacy laws being broken.

The first minister highlighted the Operation Motorman report after he was asked by UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to comment on the inquiry's remit.

Alex Salmond said the study revealed about 3,000 cases of various newspapers breaking data protection laws.

He added that questions remained over why no action was taken then.

The Information Commissioner's report exposed an extensive illegal trade in confidential personal information and made recommendations to government and industry.

Mr Salmond said: "We will submit the Scottish government's full response to the UK government's draft terms of reference on Monday, and trust that it will secure a positive response so that the inquiry can be comprehensive and thorough in the public interest."

Prime Minister David Cameron has asked Lord Justice Leveson to oversee the public inquiry after a phone-hacking scandal, led to the closure of the UK's biggest-selling newspaper, the News of the World.

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If the SNP have nothing to hide then Alex Salmond must speak out and convince the public there has been no quid pro quo for Rupert Murdoch's support of the SNP”

End Quote Paul Martin Scottish Labour Meanwhile, Scottish Labour claimed there were unanswered questions over the SNP's links with News International - the newspaper's owner.

The party published a list of 25 questions, including asking when the first minister last met with News International chairman James Murdoch, as well as how much the SNP has spent on advertising with the company in the past four years.

Scottish Labour's business manager Paul Martin said: "Throughout the entire phone hacking scandal Alex Salmond has ditched his usual megaphone diplomacy and has been uncharacteristically silent.

"Alex Salmond has desperately attempted to come across as whiter than white by keeping schtum and resorting to his default position of blaming Westminster.

"He would clearly rather we all ignored the fact that he personally met with James Murdoch, wined and dined the editor of the Scottish News of the World and provided free articles and advertising to News International newspapers worth thousands of pounds."

He called on Alex Salmond to speak out and convince the public there had been "no quid pro quo for Rupert Murdoch's support of the SNP".

'Embarrassing nonsense'

The SNP condemned Labour's attack.

A party spokesman said: "This is embarrassing nonsense from Paul Martin - he obviously doesn't let the facts get in the way of a bad press release.

"For example, the first minister was on record at a press conference last week calling on Rebekah Brooks to step down, and also gave numerous broadcast interviews supporting the Commons motion - of which the SNP was a co-sponsor - calling on News Corp's BSkyB bid to be withdrawn.

"Instead of engaging in smear, the key question Paul Martin has to answer is why the last Labour government did precisely nothing about the Operation Motorman report published by the Information Commissioner in 2006, revealing over 3,000 cases of a range of newspapers breaking data protection laws."

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Man 'cracked' before Tesco attack

1 July 2011 Last updated at 15:18 GMT Harry Stockman was stabbed multiple times A man admitted stabbing a senior loyalist more than 10 times in a busy supermarket after "something cracked in his head", the High Court has heard.

David Madine claimed repeatedly knifing Harry Stockman during a chance encounter at a north Belfast Tesco store was the only way to kill him, a judge was told.

The 40-year-old accused, of Innishargie Gardens, Bangor, faces a charge of attempted murder.

He was refused bail.

The court heard the victim was stabbed in excess of 10 times during an attack in the fruit and vegetable aisle of the Ballygomartin Road supermarket on April 20.

The victim suffered kidney, colon and bowel injuries.

Crown counsel Nicola Auret said his assailant then calmly walked out of the store and was seen on CCTV heading towards Twaddell Avenue.

Blamed

Police stopped the suspect, bare-chested and carrying a knife and T-shirt, the court heard. His hand appeared wet with blood.

Ms Auret said following his arrest Mr Madine made references to the earlier murder of his friend Bobby Moffett on Belfast's Shankill Road.

The Ulster Volunteer Force has been blamed for shooting Mr Moffett in May 2010.

In a statement read out while in custody Mr Madine claimed to have known Mr Stockman for more than 20 years.

Ms Auret said the accused alleged that he was in Tesco, saw the victim, and "something cracked in his head".

He took his partner out of the store, told her to go and then allegedly returned to look for Mr Stockman.

"When questioned he admitted it was his intention to kill Mr Stockman as he wanted him dead," the prosecuting barrister said.

"He said he knew stabbing him repeatedly was the only way to kill him."

Mr Madine also apologised to all the shoppers and staff who were in the supermarket at the time, she added.

Opposing bail, Ms Auret drew attention to press interviews given by the accused where he allegedly expressed no regrets.

"The prosecution view is, if released, he has nothing to lose and there is a very real risk he will carry out the threats to, in fact, kill Mr Stockman."

The court also heard Madine is being held in isolation within Maghaberry under a twenty three and a half hour lock-up for his own safety.

Bail

Petrol bomb attacks have been carried out on the homes of his family and friends, it was alleged.

Charles McCreanor, defending, detailed how a suspicious car drove past Mr Madine's house on the day of the stabbing.

"He thought it was about to be his turn to be killed," he said.

Mr McCreanor added that Mr Madine claimed to have carried a knife due to threats having been issued against him.

"He said this was a chance meeting," the barrister told the court.

"He apologises for what he recognises must have been an horrific spectacle for all other members of public and staff in the shop."

But despite a potential bail address in England being available, the judge refused to release him.

Mr Justice Hart said: "His attitude at the time and subsequently, makes it abundantly clear there is a risk of further offences."

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