The names of 28 News International employees were written in notebooks belonging to private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, the Leveson Inquiry heard today as it began proceedings at London’s high court.

Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, also revealed that the words ‘Daily Mirror’ had been written in the corner of Mulcaire’s notebook, but a Trinity Mirror spokesman has said the company has “no knowledge of ever using Glenn Mulcaire”. Mulcaire was jailed in 2007 alongisde former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman for intercepting voicemail messages of members of the Royal family. 

11,000  pages of Mulcaire’s notes reveals he received a total of 2,266 requests from the News International, with 2,143 being made by four unnamed journalists. The inquiry was told that a  reporter referred to as ‘A’ — and who cannot be named for fear of prejudicing the ongoing criminal investigations — made 1,453 separate requests for information from Mulcaire.

When Mulcaire’s home was raided in 2006, police also seized 690 audio recordings and a record of 586 voicemail messages intended for 64 individuals.

Jay also confirmed that Mulcaire’s notes cited 5,795 names who may be potential victims of phone hacking.

Today’s revelations suggest a culture of phone hacking at News International, Jay said, adding that the scale of Mulcaire’s work suggested that NI must have employed the private investigator full-time.

He asked if there was a “culture of denial, or worse, a cover up” at News International.

He added, “either senior management knew what was going on and therefore condoned illegal activity, or they did not and systems failed.”

Follow Index on Censorship’s coverage of the Leveson Inquiry on Twitter – @IndexLeveson.