LONDON -- Prosecutors said Friday there will be no further action against British papers and journalists over alleged phone hacking as the four-year-long investigation comes to an end.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said in a statement that there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction" over corporate liability by Murdoch's News Group Newspapers for alleged phone hacking.
She said 10 individuals under investigation at the Mirror Group — including former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan — will not face charges.
"Over the past three years, we have brought 12 prosecutions and secured nine convictions for these serious offences. These decisions bring the CPS's involvement in current investigations into phone hacking to a close," Saunders said.
Former News of the World editor Piers Morgan tweeted his reaction to the announcement.
I've today been informed by CPS that no further action will be taken against me re Met Police phone hacking investigation. mf— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 11, 2015
As I’ve said since the investigation began four years ago, I’ve never hacked a phone and nor have I ever told anybody to hack a phone. mf— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 11, 2015
Thanks to all my family & friends, and kind people on here, for all their support. It was greatly appreciated.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 11, 2015
I'm now going to get spectacularly drunk. Happy Christmas.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 11, 2015
Investigations into phone hacking, tabloid bribery and other wrongdoing were triggered by the 2011 revelation that staff at Murdoch's News of the World had eavesdropped on the voicemails of celebrities, politicians and crime victims.
Dozens of journalists and public officials were arrested, though most were released or acquitted.
The hacking revelations did bring the end of The News of the World after Murdoch decided to pull the plug. When it closed it was still one of the most read newspapers in the UK, selling 2.6 million copies a week. Its last edition, published on July 10, 2011, displayed a message that read: "The world's greatest newspaper, 1843-2011."