The News of the World has issued an apology in this Sunday’s edition over the phone-hacking scandal.
The paper said of the victims: “Here today, we publicly and unreservedly apologise to all such individuals.”
It added: “What happened to them should not have happened. It was and remains unacceptable.”
The News of the World’s owner News International has admitted there were at least eight victims and has put aside £20m in compensation.
The paper said that a number of individuals had brought breach of privacy claims against it over wrongful voicemail interceptions between 2004 and 2006, and others were threatening to do so.
It continued: “Evidence has recently come to light which supports some of these claims.
“We have written to relevant individuals to admit liability in these civil cases and to apologise unreservedly, and will do the same to any other individuals where evidence shows their claims to be justifiable.
“We hope to be able to pay appropriate compensation to all these individuals, and have asked our lawyers to set up a compensation scheme to deal with genuine claims fairly and efficiently.”
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