'No third party' in Hoare death

Third party involvement has been ruled out in the death of former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare
12 April 2012

Detectives hope toxicology tests will solve the death riddle of phone-hacking whistleblower Sean Hoare.

Third party involvement has been ruled out as post-mortem examinations were completed on the former News of the World reporter.

Mr Hoare, who made claims in a New York Times article about the Prime Minister's former communications chief Andy Coulson, was discovered at his home in Watford, Hertfordshire, on Monday.

Examinations on the body confirmed the death is "non-suspicious", a Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said, and she added that it could take several weeks for toxicology test results to be released.

Neighbours of the ex-journalist, who did not want to be named, described him as "paranoid" and unwell in the weeks before his death.

One said his friend - who battled alcohol abuse - had told residents about voicemail interception long before it hit the headlines.

Last year, Mr Hoare publicly claimed that Coulson was aware of phone hacking while he was editor at the News of the World.

He gave an interview to the New York Times, and then to the BBC, about the use of phone hacking at the newspaper, and told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that the practise was "endemic" in the industry.

Mr Hoare, who worked on the Sun before being recruited by Mr Coulson to work on the NoTW, said: "He was well aware that the practice exists. To deny it is a lie, simply a lie."

Mr Coulson denies the allegations.

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