News International reported set to offer Milly Dowler's family £3 million settlement package
The family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler is in line to receive a £2 million phone-hacking payout as part of a settlement with News International, according to media sources.
It is understood the settlement will be made within the next "couple of days" and an additional £1million will be paid personally to charity by global media magnate Rupert Murdoch.
If these reports are confirmed, the £3 million pay-out package will set a new benchmark in the phone-hacking scandal.
However, it is understood that News International has not yet reached final agreement with the Dowler family, whose lawyers were believed to be seeking a settlement figure closer to £3.5 million.
The seven-figure sums under negotiation amount to one of the largest payouts ever made by a newspaper owner – reflecting the fact that the phone-hacking case affected a family who were victims of crime.
The Dowler family and their lawyers declined to comment last night.
Rupert Murdoch personally met the Dowler family in July - shortly after the story about hacking into her phone broke; making what the family's lawyer, Mark Lewis, said was a "full and humble" apology.
Last night News International confirmed it was "in advanced negotiations with the Dowler family regarding their compensation settlement. No final agreement has yet been reached, but we hope to conclude the discussions as quickly as possible."
It is expected that New International will announce the details of the pay-out package at a press conference later this week.