crone and mr. myler that this document existed at all and what it meant and was it absolutely clear to him as a result of your discussions in that meeting, not only did the case have to be settled, as we point to that in some detail that there was some evidence that wrongdoing extended beyond clive goodman? >> i think based on the fact that -- as i said outside senior counsel, outside junior counsel, external lawyers -- >> we're going at this thing -- >> no, no. with respect to, mr. collins, there's importance you don't rush into these things. you take time by getting outside advice as well as external/internal advice as it were. so with respect to it's significant that that was the advice that they gave. >> of course, it was in terms of settling the case. >> yes. >> an understanding of the broader issues and what this actually meant. >> yes. >> this is absolutely crucial. >> yes. >> and james murdoch has been very clear in his written evidence to us and if that is wrong, that's a very serious matter. an

jim sheraton. >> mr. myler, it's been a long day, and i hope that my recollection of facts is correct. in response to mr. davis, he said he didn't know anything or wouldn't get involved in any individual payments. >> i wasn't involved in the negotiation or conversations about mr. goodman. >> yes, i know the question you posed, i understand it was why you were making a payment at all. >> i didn't pose any question. i'm just trying to put the record straight from my point of view about my lack of involvement in any negotiation or conversation regarding what payments mr. goodman received. >> -- [inaudible] transaction as i understand it. the only question you say i posed is why you were making any payment at all. who did you pose that question to? is. >> no. i think the question i posed at the beginning was i felt that it was a pretty extraordinary sequence of events that a man who had pleaded guilty and served a prison sentence then had the opportunity to appeal against his dismissal. and as i said, i'm an employ

i discussed in great detail with him and i passed on their advice to mr. myler and to mr.he agree to settle for so much money? >> to get out of the case. >> isn't it the case that he was well aware that you would buy the silence of gordon taylor if you settled for 425,000 pounds? >> we -- well, as i said, i think the -- the imperative or the priority at that time was to settle this case, get rid of it and contain the situation as far as four others are concerned and get on with our business. >> he knew full well to settle for that amount of money would conceal the email, didn't it? >> we couldn't -- we couldn't reveal the email because it had been given to us under very, very strict under confidentiality imposed almost certainly by mr. taylor. and there's nothing covering up -- >> could i make it clear -- >> mr. taylor -- >> let me make something clear which seems to be missed very, very clearly, possibly by this committee and that is the providence of this document was the metropolitan police. there was a metropolitan police document coming out of their files. how can we

. >> mr. myler, is that true? >> i was not there at the time. i arrived at the newspaper at the end of january 2007. they would be sent to prison. >> nobody said to you, well, actually, he could have the job back? >> no. >> in your mind, there was never any suggestion at any point? >> no. >> i do not think the editor being referred to is mr. myler. i have no idea what was said to mr. goodman. but mr. coulson had conversations with me on at least two or three occasions, where he said, at the end of all -- of it all, when clive had served his sentence, paid his funds, whatever was, -- whatever it was, he could come back and work for the company. in such a capacity. now, when i spoke to clive, i had meetings before and after, rather hanging around -- andy was hoping. he foresaw that he might be going to prison. he was quite pessimistic, worried about his family. now, i was able to say to him that he could find a way that he could come back to the company. >> but the chairman of the company -- >> once you had served whenever sentence -- whatever sen