Truth will come out eventually: Neville Thurlbeck

Neville Thurlbeck, former chief reporter of the now defunct News of the World, has warned his former employer that he had information that would be to the "detriment of News International", and added that the truth in the case will eventually come out.

Thurlbeck, who was a key figure at the tabloid reflected in the ‘for Neville’ email, on Friday said he "took no part in the matter which led to my dismissal".

He was arrested and bailed for alleged phone-hacking in April.

In his first public statement since he was arrested and bailed, Thurlbeck, 49, claimed there was "much I could have said publicly to the detriment of News International", but had so far chosen not to do so.

He was dismissed by Rupert Murdoch's News International earlier this month, prompting him to sue his former employer for unfair dismissal.

He had applied for "interim relief" at an employment tribunal hearing scheduled to be heard on Friday but he withdrew the case on Thursday.

Thurlbeck said in his statement: "Scotland Yard has now made me aware of the reason for my dismissal, a reason which News International has withheld from me for almost a month. For legal reasons, I am unable to go into the reason cited. However, I will say this. I took no part in the matter which has led to my dismissal after 21 years of service".

"I say this most emphatically and with certainty and confidence that the allegation which led to my dismissal will eventually be shown to be false. And those responsible for the action, for which I have been unfairly dismissed, will eventually be revealed," he added