Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator at the heart of the News of the World phone hacking scandal, has issued another apology for his role in the affair.
However, in a statement released by his solicitor, Mulcaire, who was jailed in 2007 along with the News of the World royal correspondent Clive Goodman, claimed that he had been working "under the instructions of others."
He also asserted that he had not worked independently, contradicting the position of News International, who maintain that the investigator had carried out the phone tapping without the knowledge of staff on the paper.
The statement read: "Glenn Mulcaire has already expressed his sincere regret to those who have been hurt and affected by his activities and he repeats that apology most sincerely.
"He was effectively employed by News of the World from 2002 to carry out his role as a private investigator. As he accepted when he pleaded guilty in 2007 to charges of phone interception he admits that his role did include phone hacking.
"As an employee he acted on the instructions of others. There were also occasions when he understood his instructions were from those who genuinely wished to assist in solving crimes. Any suggestion that he acted in such matters unilaterally is untrue."
The statement concluded: "In the light of the ongoing police investigation, he cannot say any more"
In a further development, the culture Committee currently investigating the case has released correspondence pertaining to the ongoing investigation, including:
A letter from James Murdoch in which the News Corporation CEO stood by his testimony delivered to the committee on 19 July.
A letter from Jon Chapman in which the former News International lawyer repeated his claim that there had been "inaccuracies" in James Murdoch's testimony.
Correspondence from Trinity Mirror regarding MP Louise Mensch's allegations that Piers Morgan, formerly editor of the Daily Mirror, knew about the practice of phone hacking.
A letter from Louise Mensch apologising for her questions during the hearing in which she stated that Piers Morgan had “been open about phone hacking in a book he wrote”.
Correspondence from Harbottle & Lewis, the News of the World's former solicitors, informing the committee that the solicitor-client privilege had been waived.