Newspaper breached code

The Mail on Sunday was found guilty of subterfuge by the Press Complaints Commission after one of its reporters posed as a homeless person to gain access to the home of the author Germaine Greer.

Dr Greer had written an article for the Big Issue, a magazine for the homeless, expressing her belief that it was the duty of all privileged people to offer hospitality. Martin Hennessey, an MoS reporter, took up the offer and stayed for two nights at her home. As well as feeding him and doing his washing, she tried to find him a job. The article which subsequently appeared described the contents of Dr Greer's home and possessions. The journalists' Code of Practice states that subterfuge can only be justified when the public interest is at stake.