Both Murdochs apologised repeatedly for the hacking of mobile phones carried out by journalists at the News of The World, but the tone of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee meeting had been set when the Murdochs were refused the opportunity to read a statement at the start of the hearing. James and Rupert Murdoch appear before a parliamentary committee on phone hacking. Credit:Reuters "I was absolutely shocked, appalled and ashamed when I heard about the Milly Dowler case only two weeks ago" said Mr Murdoch snr. Many of his answers were short and came after long pauses. On occasions he banged the table as he tried to emphasise his point. The Labour MP Tom Watson directed his focus towards Mr Murdoch snr and his responsibilities, as News Corp’s chief executive, for corporate governance.

As well as quizzing him on phone hacking, Mr Watson also pointed out that the former News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, admitted in 2003 that police were paid for information. Humbled ... Rupert Murdoch. Credit:AFP Mr Murdoch snr said: "I am now aware of that, I was not aware at the time. I’m also aware that she amended that considerably very quickly afterwards." Mr Watson said: "I think she amended it seven or eight years afterwards but did you or anyone else in your organisation investigate it at the time?" Mr Murdoch said: "No. I didn’t know of it," adding, "I’m sorry, if I can just say something and this is not as an excuse, maybe it’s an explanation of my laxity. "The News of the World is less than 1 per cent of our company. I employ 53,000 people around the world who are proud and great and ethical and distinguished people, professionals in their work."

When James Murdoch tried to intervene on his father’s behalf, Mr Watson replied: "Your father is responsible for corporate governance and serious wrongdoing has been brought about in the company. I feel like people I trusted ... let me down. I think they behaved disgracefully ... and it's for them to pay. I think, frankly, I am the best person to clear this up "It is revealing in itself what he does not know and what executives chose not to tell him." Mr Murdoch snr also claimed to be unaware of payments made to the victims of hacking, while his son defended his actions in making the settlements. He claimed cases needed to be settled, though it should have been combined with other actions.

"Knowing then what I know now would I have still directed to settle that case? I would actually, but I would have coupled it with the other actions we have taken,’’ he said about out-of-court settlements. Mr Murdoch senior said he had not considered resigning over the scandal. Asked why not, he said: "I feel like people I trusted ... let me down. I think they behaved disgracefully ... and it's for them to pay. I think, frankly, I am the best person to clear this up." The pair gave evidence after another parliamentary committee had heard evidence from the former Metropolitan Police chief commissioner Paul Stephenson and his deputy John Yates, both of whom had resigned in the past two days. Ms Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, later gave evidence to the select hearing. Loading

As the scandal deepened, a journalist, Sean Hoare, 47, who used to work for News of the World, was found dead. Police investigating the death of Hoare – who publicly accused the former News of the World editor Andy Coulson of orchestrating hacking – said there were no suspicious circumstances.