Whistleblower in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal found dead

This story just keeps getting worse and worse. This morning Michael Söze reported here that Rebekah Brooks, a former chief executive of News International, has been arrested; and now we find out courtesy of a report in the Guardian Online that the man who started all this has been found dead.

Sean Hoare was the former News of the World showbiz reporter that came forward with the allegations that Andy Coulson knew full well about all the phone-hacking that was going on in the organization.

Hertfordshire police would not confirm his identity, but the force said in a statement: “At 10.40am today [Monday 18 July] police were called to Langley Road, Watford, following the concerns for the welfare of a man who lives at an address on the street. Upon police and ambulance arrival at a property, the body of a man was found. The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious. Police investigations into this incident are ongoing.”

Hoare, who has admitted to past drug and alcohol problems that have been dealt with, said recently that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that there is a private investigator with ties to the News of the World that could be coming forward soon.

As Hoare put it in an interview

“He may want to talk now because I think what you’ll find now is a lot of people are going to want to cover their arse.”

Hopefully this isn’t being investigated by the same police force that has been tied to this scandal.