Journlists found to have acted illegally should face “the full force of the law”, according to Colin Myler, the former editor of the now defunct News of the World.
Speaking at the Leveson Inquiry, Myler said he “did not recognise” the shady world of phone hacking and extravagant expenses detailed by earlier witnesses.
"That's not a world I recognise, notwithstanding that core of people, whoever they may be," he said.
Myler was referring to Paul McMullan, the paper's ex-deputy features editor, who last month told the Inquiry that "privacy is for paedos".
"Mr McMullan often drifted off into a world of car chases, hacking phones, blagging, doing rather disagreeable things," said the former tabloid editor.
"The criminality that took place, if it did take place, at the News of the World, is one thing, and whatever acts that individuals took part in, the full force of the law should take care of them. I'm sure it will,” he said.
When asked about the publication of Kate McCann’s private diaries, Myler defended his position saying that the news editor, Ian Edmondson, had brought the story to him. According to Edmondson, he had a copy of the diary, said Myler.
Earlier in the Inquiry, Kate McCann told the Leveson inquiry she felt "violated" after the News of the World published her private diary.
“I felt mentally raped," Kate McCann said, having read the front page of the newspaper, which carried the headline: "Kate's Diary: In her own words."
Giving evidence, Myler said I wouldn't have published Kate McCann's diaries if she wasn't aware. He argued that a spokesman working for the McCanns had given the news editor consent.
The newspaper did enter into a formal agreement to buy the diaries following publication.
Earlier, Tom Crone, the News of the World's former legal manager, told the Inquiry that James Murdoch was aware that phone hacking was happening at the paper.