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Sun journalists cleared of paying public officials

Senior Sun journalists expressed a mixture of relief and anger today as their three-year "ordeal" ended when they were cleared of paying public officials for scoops, including titbits on the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Chief reporter John Kay, 71, and royal editor Duncan Larcombe, 39, were found not guilty of wrongdoing over their contact with two military sources after a jury deliberated for more than 48 hours at the Old Bailey.

The Sun's executive editor Fergus Shanahan, 60, and deputy editor Geoff Webster, 55, were also cleared over allegations that they signed off payments.

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Kay: 'I'm very, very upset a Sun source ended up in jail'

Sun chief reporter John Kay - one of four journalists acquitted at the Old Bailey - said he was "very, very upset" a trusted source of the Sun newspaper had been jailed.

Sun chief reporter John Kay. Credit: +A

Thanking family and friends who stood by him Mr Kay, 71, said: "It's a great relief that a three-year ordeal is over.

"I just hope that this result bears fruit for other colleagues in a similar predicament."

Asked about his source Bettina Jordan-Barber, who was jailed for a year after pleading guilty, he said: "I'm very, very upset that a trusted source of the Sun ended up in jail as a result of betrayal by my own company."

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Sun journalists cleared of paying public officials

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