Mary And Joseph Accuses NOTW Of Phone Hacking. Exclusive by Nick Stern.

Couple accuses tabloid of hacking their phones and tracking donkey with GPS.

The leveson enquiry heard how news of the world journalist obtained “possibly illegal” information about the birth of their son – Jesus, prompting a war of words between the unmarried couple and the tabloid.

In a heated and sometime emotional testimony into press standards the couple told how News of the world journalists obtained Mary’s medical records in order prove she was a virgin. 

The couple’s comments were swiftly rejected by News International, marking a dramatic day that also saw Lord Justice Leveson hear evidence how the tabloid had placed a GPS tracking device on Joseph’s donkey so they could obtain the first exclusive photographs of the new born child.

Joseph told the hearing he tried to keep information about Mary’s pregnancy secret after the News of the World first speculated that she may be carrying his baby, despite claiming to be a virgin, saying “my overwhelming motive throughout this whole episode was to protect the mother and my child”.

The carpenter was followed by paparazzi, often chased for miles across desert.

Mary told the enquiry how her suspicions were raised when three wise men turned up at the stables bearing gifts, “They must have tracked us for miles to find out where Jesus was going to be born” the single mum claimed. News international also denied the three wise men were actually fake sheiks.

Advertisement