'Mirror' editor receives strong reprimand over share dealing

Piers Morgan, editor of The Mirror, was criticised in the strongest possible terms by press watchdogs yesterday over his involvement in a share dealing scandal at the newspaper.

The Press Complaints Commission ruled he was in breach of the industry's code of practice and had "fallen short of the high professional standards demanded by the code". Using its highest sanction, the Commission said: "In view of the unsatisfactory state of affairs revealed by this episode, the Commission has decided to refer the terms of this adjudication to the chief executive of Trinity Mirror."

It is the second time in its 10-year history that the commission has made such a referral - the last also being against Mr Morgan, then editor of the News of the World, over an article about Victoria Spencer's stay at a private clinic.

The ruling said two reporters had "engaged in flagrant, multiple breaches of the code over a sustained period time". It cleared Mr Morgan's deputy, Tina Weaver, who had also been implicated in the affair.

In a statement issued last night, Mr Morgan said he "regretted" breaching the code, and that new controls would ensure it would not happen again.