The Sun has welcomed back to its editorial staff Nick Parker, a reporter who was arrested, charged and tried under Operation Elveden.
The paper’s chief foreign correspondent is to resume his duties following a trial in which he was cleared of aiding and abetting a police officer to commit misconduct in a public office.
He was, however, found guilty of handling a mobile phone that had been stolen - though he did not know it - from Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh. He received a three-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months for that offence.
In an email to staff today, the Sun’s editor, David Dinsmore, said he was pleased to announce Parker’s return. And his email underlined that the paper would be sticking to a pledge to consider similar cases involving arrested staff. It stated:
“We have given a commitment to every individual involved in the legal process that we would review their cases individually and that no decisions or actions would be taken without discussing it with them.
Following the conclusion of his trial in December, we have been talking to Nick about the issues surrounding his case and the events of 2010. The discussions have led us to the belief that punitive action against Nick would be disproportionate.
Lessons have been learned from this experience by all of us in the newsroom. We would handle the story very differently today. We have improved processes in place to help support our decision-making and I want to thank each of you for embracing the enhancements in governance, which reflect the growth in business standards across our organisation”.
The email went on to quote Parker as saying:
“After three traumatic years I am thrilled to be back at The Sun and will seize this chance to get back to work and get on with my life. I will always be in debt to my family and friends for their fantastic support.
I could not have come through this without them. Many friends and colleagues are still involved in the legal process and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time”.
At his Old Bailey trial, the jury were told that Parker had accessed McDonagh’s phone in order to read her text messages and made detailed notes of them. But he decided there was no story worth writing.
His defence counsel tolf the court that the reporter had been prosecuted simply for doing his job.
Comment: The Sun’s ultimate owner, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, has made the right decision in allowing Parker to return to work. Few commentators (for example, see Peter Preston here) thought his conviction was fair.
It also sends out a message to other members of staff that they stand a chance, if they wish, of returning to work, although each case is obviously going to be treated on its merits.
In some instances, I imagine that people will want to walk away. Whatever the case, I applaud Dinsmore and News UK for giving Parker a desk at London Bridge, an office he has never worked in previously.