Brooks….nowhere to hide

Second arrest imminent, identity unknown

Increasingly substantiated reports are emerging tonight that Former NotW editor and Downing Street Media Chief Andy Coulson will present himself voluntarily at a London police station for arrest within the next 24 hours. And in a separate development, The Slog understands that former NotW journalist Sean Hoare will also give a statement to police heavily implicating Rebekah Brooks as an instigator of hacking.

Having been informed this afternoon of his imminent arrest, former Murdoch boss Andy Coulson has agreed to present himself at a police station tomorrow (Friday) for questioning. He will be arraigned for trial at a later date with three fellow suspects, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup. I understand that a second suspect will also be arrested, but have as yet been unable to firmly establish the indentity of this person.

What I do know is that Sean Hoare, a journalist at one time working directly to Newscorp CEO Rebekah Brooks, will give a formal statement to Operation Weeting detectives, directly accusing Ms Brooks of lying about her knowledge of phone hacking at the News of the World.

Sources close to Coulson are also tonight suggesting that he is not remotely interested in carrying the can for either Newscorp in general or Ms Brooks in particular. He has told friends in the last 48 hours that he will probably go to jail, but that he does not expect to be serving his sentence alone. Media contacts have also hinted that at least one other suspect is of the same opinion. Rumours were widespread last month that Newscorp was making ‘support’ payments to Ian Edmondson despite having fired him, although the allegations were never substantiated beyond Newscorp claims to have a ‘duty of care’ towards Edmondson.