Death of hacking whistleblower probed in Britain

Sean Hoare

In a bizarre twist to Britain's phone-hacking crisis, police were Tuesday investigating the unexplained death of a whistleblower who implicated the prime minister's ex-media chief in the row.

Former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare was found dead at his home on Monday, less than a year after he became the first named journalist to allege that the paper's one-time editor Andy Coulson knew about hacking at the paper. Police said the death was unexplained but not thought to be suspicious.

Hoare, 47, was reportedly battling drink and alcohol addiction from his years as a high-rolling showbusiness reporter searching for scoops on the London party circuit. A post-mortem examination was under way on Tuesday.

He first alleged in interviews with The New York Times newspaper and the BBC last year that Coulson, who edited the News of the World from 2003-2007 and went on to become Prime Minister David Cameron's communications chief, knew about voicemail hacking. AFP