LORD Hutton Visits Kelly Family Ahead of Inquiry
LORD Hutton, the judge chairing the forthcoming inquiry into the suicide of weapons expert Dr David Kelly, visited Kelly’s family yesterday to discuss how he intends to conduct his inquiry. He spoke to Janice Kelly and two of her daughters but did not take any evidence from them.
Churches Across UK Pay Tribute to Dr David Kelly
Hutton’s visit came as churches across the UK agreed to make the unusual tribute to Kelly on the morning of his funeral by tolling their bells. The date of the funeral has yet to be announced although the coroner released Dr Kelly’s body on Friday.
MoD Refuses to Comment on Janice Kelly's Alleged Remarks to Defence Secretary
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) refused to comment on claims by BBC insiders that Janice Kelly told defence secretary Geoff Hoon to resign during a meeting on Wednesday.
Preliminary Hearings to Begin at Royal Courts of Justice
The preliminary hearings of the inquiry will begin this week at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Hutton is expected to then adjourn the proceedings for 10 days to read written submissions from interested parties including Number 10, the MoD, and the BBC.
Secretary of Inquiry Provides Details on Televised Sessions
The secretary of the inquiry, Lee Hughes, says only Lord Hutton’s opening and closing statements will be televised. Most of the inquiry will be held in public, apart from those sessions where the Kelly family are being questioned. He added that transcripts of all evidence will be released “almost immediately” to the press.
ITN and Sky News Request Televised Hearings
However, ITN and Sky News have asked Hutton to allow the hearings to be televised on the grounds that the inquiry is of national and historic importance. The BBC has declined to join the action, stating that as an interested party it should not put itself in conflict with Hutton.
Government and BBC Prepare for Inquiry
Both the government and the BBC are spending the weekend in frantic preparations for the forthcoming inquiry. The corporation, anticipating a full frontal attack by the government, is preparing its own comprehensive dossier of evidence.
BBC Gathers Evidence to Support its Case
Part of the BBC’s evidence will come in the form of tapes and notes of meetings between BBC journalists and Kelly in which the microbiologist named Tony Blair’s director of communications Alastair Campbell as having played a role in “sexing up” claims that Saddam could deploy weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.
BBC Seeks Support from Journalists and Sources
This weekend, the BBC is actively soliciting journalists and other sources who may have spoken with Kelly to come forward to help the corporation back up its case. “There were quite a few other journalists that Kelly spoke to,” a BBC source said.
BBC Plans to Submit Evidence on MI6 Briefings
The BBC also plans to make submissions to the Hutton inquiry about secret briefings given by the head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, to BBC executives. In one lunch meeting, Dearlove met Kevin Marsh, the editor of the Today programme, and John Humphrys, its anchor, and told them that Syria and Iran posed a greater threat than Iraq. Dearlove is also said to have told BBC executives that Iraq was not viewed by the intelligence services as a primary threat.
Government's Response Criticized by BBC
A BBC insider said: “We can prove that we accurately reported Kelly and that the government attacks and its six-week campaign of terror are motivated solely by spite. This has been a monumental diversion away from the issue of whether the threat from Iraq was exaggerated and it cost Kelly his life.”
Allegations of Lies and Attacks on BBC Journalists
A BBC source also said Kelly told a “couple of direct lies” when giving evidence to the foreign affairs select committee (FAC), including saying he didn’t know about the dossier’s 45-minute claim until two days before its publication. He also denied talking to Gavin Hewitt, though it has now emerged he spoke to the BBC reporter.
Sources also revealed details of events which occurred during a private session of the FAC when Andrew Gilligan, the BBC reporter who first broadcast the allegations, was cross-examined for a second time.
“It was pre-planned. All the Labour members had a dossier on Gilligan,” the source said. “They seemed to have every story he had covered going back 18 months. One Labour MP questioned him about a story he’d covered over a year ago and when he told them that he couldn’t recall exact details, they attacked him for being an unreliable journalist and saying he couldn’t defend his story.”
The Impact of Media Coverage on the Kelly Inquiry
The ongoing investigation into the suicide of weapons expert Dr David Kelly has brought to the forefront many aspects of media coverage and its impact on high-stakes inquiries. As the Hutton inquiry gears up, the scrutiny on the BBC, the government, and the handling of intelligence becomes intense.
Amidst the calls for transparency and accountability, the media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and providing evidence to support each side's claims. The BBC, as an interested party, aims to defend its impartial reporting and refute accusations of misrepresentation.
The forthcoming inquiry will delve into complex issues surrounding the alleged sexing-up of intelligence on Iraq's weapons capabilities and the subsequent tragic consequences. As the nation awaits the proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the importance of maintaining the integrity of journalism and the pursuit of truth cannot be understated.
While implicating individuals and dissecting the actions and statements of key figures, it is essential to remember that at the heart of this inquiry lies the loss of a life. Dr David Kelly's untimely death has sent shockwaves through the nation, sparking a nationwide debate on the responsibility of the media, the government's handling of intelligence, and the pressures faced by whistleblowers.
As the Hutton inquiry unfolds, it is crucial for all parties involved to recognize the gravity of the situation and strive for a fair and thorough examination of the events leading up to Dr Kelly's death. Only through a transparent and comprehensive inquiry can the public regain confidence in the systems that shape the nation's security and information dissemination.