PM's communications chief tells Sheridan 'sex tape' trial: 'I didn't see your face but I recognised your voice'

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 7:52 AM on 10th December 2010

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The Prime Minister’s chief spin doctor yesterday denied ordering secret phone tapping when he gave evidence to the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial.

Andy Coulson, a former editor of the News of the World, claimed he was unaware any of his reporters were involved in such illegal activities while he was in charge at the Sunday tabloid.

He told the High Court in Glasgow that he had viewed a video tape - which his newspaper had paid £200,000 for - that purports to show Sheridan admitting to visiting a swingers club.

Andy Coulson leaves the High Court in Glasgow today after giving evidence in the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial

The court has been told the tape was released to the News of the World by Sheridan’s best man, George McNeilage, shortly after the former MSP won a defamation action against the paper in 2006.

Sheridan and his wife Gail are on trial accused of lying under oath during the libel trial. The ex-Scottish Socialist Party leader won £200,000 in damages after the Sunday tabloid printed allegations that he was an adulterer who visited sex clubs.

Mr Coulson, who now works as Downing Street’s director of communications, was being questioned by former Socialist firebrand Sheridan, who is conducting his own defence.

He told the court he travelled to Glasgow to view the tape and suggested to the paper’s Scottish editor, Bob Bird, that he should do what he could to verify its authenticity.

Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail attending Glasgow High Court earlier in the hearing. Both deny lying under oath during a successful defamation action against the News of the World

He told the court he believed the secretly filmed tape to be authentic on first viewing. When asked by Sheridan why he thought this, Mr Coulson said: 'It was you.'

Sheridan asked Mr Coulson if he had seen his face on the tape. Mr Coulson said no but he was familiar with his voice. Sheridan has previously claimed during the trial that the film is concocted and that it is not him.
He said to Mr Coulson: 'You were one of Wapping’s two top men in relation to the George McNeilage tape.'

Mr Coulson replied: 'My involvement with the tape was that he (McNeilage) came to Bob Bird (Scottish editor) first. He alerted me to its existence.

'I travelled to Glasgow - I can’t remember specifically for that - I viewed the tape and suggested that Bob should do all he could to verify it.'

He added: 'Although I thought that it was authentic on first view.'

Sheridan asked: 'What looked authentic?'

Mr Coulson: 'It was you.'

Sheridan: 'Could you see my face?'

The witness: 'No, but I heard your voice. We matched it to other recordings of your voice and it seemed pretty authentic to me.

'We published the video believing and still believing that it was you.'

Asked if that was because he had heard his voice through recordings supplied by private investigators, Mr Coulson said he certainly did not remember doing so.

The court heard Mr Coulson was in charge of the paper between 2003 and 2007 but resigned after the paper’s Royal editor Clive Goodman and a private detective, Glenn Mulcaire, were jailed for hacking mobile phones belonging to members of the Royal household.

Mr Coulson said he took 'ultimate responsibility' and decided to step down.

Sheridan asked him whether he had employed people who 'broke the law'. Mr Coulson replied: 'No, don’t think so. Would certainly not seek to do so, but obviously we did because of the Clive Goodman case.'
The Conservative press chief also said he 'did not believe' the paper employed convicted criminals.
When the former MSP challenged Mr Coulson on his knowledge of Mulcaire, Mr Coulson said it only became apparent Mulcaire worked with the paper on a freelance basis around the time of Goodman’s arrest.
Mr Coulson: 'I never met, spoke or e-mailed Glenn Mulcaire prior to the Goodman affair starting.'
However, he accepted that a figure of around £105,000 was paid to Mulcaire’s company, but said the firm was used in an 'entirely legitimate way' and that it had been accepted at the previous case that it was a 'legitimate contract'.

Mr Coulson later told how he used to speak to News International owner Rupert Murdoch from “time to time” mostly about politics.

Sheridan asked: 'Did he expect anything in return for your appointment at Downing Street?'
Mr Coulson responded: 'Certainly not.'

The trial was also told Mr Coulson was previously questioned by a parliamentary committee about alleged illegal activities at the News of the World while he was there.

Sheridan asked him whether he accepted such a “culture” had existed.

Mr Coulson: 'There was an unfortunate issue - to put it mildly - involving Clive Goodman. There was no one more sorry than me. That’s why I resigned.'

Sheridan said activities - such as phone hacking - were described as the 'dark arts' and questioned the former editor about claims made by ex-News of the World reporter Sean Hoare.

Sheridan: 'He has claimed that you encouraged him to employ the dark arts and break the law. Did you ask Sean Hoare to practice his dark arts?'

Mr Coulson: 'Certainly not. I have no recollection of that.'

The Sheridans - both 46 - deny the perjury charge.

The trial, before Judge Lord Bracadale, continues.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337228/The-Sheridan-tape-It-voice-published-Coulson-tells-perjury-trial.html#ixzz17iK6H5Zb