Trinity Mirror shareholders urge inquiry Some big shareholders in Trinity Mirror are planning to call for an investigation into alleged phone hacking at tabloid titles including the Daily Mirror after four individuals issued High Court claims against the newspaper publisher. Trinity's shares fell 10 per cent on Tuesday following revelations that individuals including Sven-Göran Eriksson, the former England football manager, and Garry Flitcroft, ex-captain of Blackburn Rovers football club, initiated claims against its newspaper division over phone-hacking allegations. It is the first time the scandal has spread beyond Rupert Murdoch's News International titles. One top-five shareholder said it would ask the board to launch an independent inquiry, saying it would be an "appropriate" step. A top-20 shareholder added: "We need as much information as possible on this. An inquiry would be a good thing as that would clear up any concerns about further scandals. Another top-20 shareholder said he would bring up the issue of an investigation with management. The claims filed in the High Court allege "breach of confidence and misuse of private information" relating to the "interception and/or misuse of mobile phone voicemail messages and/or the interception of telephone accounts." But one top-10 shareholder said there was no need for an inquiry as there were only four claims and no evidence had emerged. In 2011, Trinity sent letters to 43 senior editorial staff asking three questions. Sly Bailey, who quit in May as chief executive, told the Leveson inquiry into press standards in January that this "showed the company's position," adding: "I take comfort from the fact they all signed it." A second top-five shareholder said: "A year ago we had discussions with Trinity and they claimed they had done an internal investigation. We were never convinced they were asking the right questions. There was a lack of clarity and satisfaction. Concerns over the potential cost of litigation linger. The same top-five shareholder said: "This will come down to the cost of any litigation and the defence. The settlements are not as worrying as the legal fees. But I don't think this will bankrupt Trinity Mirror. While most investors were critical of Trinity's former management team, they expressed confidence in the new one, and in chairman David Grigson and chief executive Simon Fox. Trinity Mirror said: "We have not yet received any claims nor have we been provided with any substantiation for those claims. As we have previously stated, all our journalists work within the criminal law and the Press Complaints Commission Code of Conduct. Sue Akers, the Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner, told the Leveson inquiry in July that Mirror newspapers was a focus of officers" suspicions over payments to public officials.