BBC - Press Office - Statement on Dr David Kelly Ydse 1 Ul L

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WEDNESDAY
23rd July 2003
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a Press Release

20 .07 .03 BBC NEWS

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BBC statement on Dr David Kelly

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i..Of7IInBfGl :3~ The BBC deeply regrets the death of Dr David Kelly . We had the greatest respect
for his achievements in Iraq and elsewhere over many years and wish once
again to express our condolences to his family .
About the BBC

Contact Us There has been much speculation about whether or Kelly was the source for the
Today programme report by Andrew Gilligan on May 29
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Having now informed Dr Kelly's family, we can confirm that Dr Kelly was the
Lke this page? pnncipal source for both Andrew Gilligan's report and for Susan Watts' reports
send-it t~fh -d-1 on Newsnight on June 2 and 4

The BBC believes we accurately interpreted and reported the factual information
obtained by us during interviews with Dr Kelly

Over the past few weeks we have been at pains to protect Dr Kelly being
identified as the source of these reports We clearly owed him a duty of
confidentiality .

Following his death, we now believe, in order to end the continuing speculation,
it is important to release this information as swiftly as possible . We did not
release it until this morning at the request of or Kelly's family .

The BBC will fully co-operate with the Government's inquiry

We will make a full and frank submission to Lord Hutton and will provide full
details of all the contacts between Dr Kelly and the two BBC Journalists including
contemporaneous notes and other materials made by both journalists,
independently

We continue to believe we were right to place or Kelly's views in the public

domain .

However, the BBC is profoundly sorry that his involvement as our source has
ended so tragically

Notes to Editors

Andrew Gdliaan statement (20 7 os)

BBC statement following Andrew Gilllgan's aooearance before the Foreign Affairs
Select Committee (17 07 03)

Letter from Gavvn Davies Chairman of the BBC to Geoff Hoon Secretarv of
State for Defence IIO m o3>

Latest BBC statement regardin g the source of the Today programme report on

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http ://www.bbc .co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/07july/20/statement david 23/07/2003
BBC - Press Office - Andrew Gi1llgan 20 July 2003 statement rage t ot t

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WEDNESDAY
23rd July 2003
Taid 01
B B © Press Office
BBC Homeoaae
About the BBC PRESS RELEASES

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20.07 03 BBC NEWS
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Andrew Gilligan statement 20 July 2003
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Statement issued on behalf of Andrew Gllllgan

About the_BBC
"I want to make d clear that I did not misquote or misrepresent Dr David Kelly
Contact Us
'Entirely separately from my meeting with him, Dr Kelly expressed very similar
Help
concerns about Downing Street interpretation of intelligence in the dossier and
the unreliability of the 45-minute point to Newsnight .
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Send it to a inend'
"These reports have never been questioned by Downing Street .

"Although Dr Kelly had close connections with the intelligence community none
of these reports ever described him as a member of the intelligence services, but
as a senior official closely involved in the preparation of the dossier ."

Notes to Editors

BBC statement on Dr David Kelly (20 07 03)

88C tate ment followin

Select Committee (17 07 03)

Letter from Gavvn Davies Chairman of the BBC, to Geoff Hoon . Secretarv o_f
State for Defence (LO 07 Os)

Latest BBC statement regarding the source of the Today programme report on
the IraD dossler (09 m 03)

BBC response to MoD statement (os 07 03)

Letter from Gavvn Davies Chairman of the BBC to Geoff Hoon Secretary of
State for Defence (og m 03)

BBC says FAC reDort iustifies BBC journalism (07 07 03)

Statement from Gavvn Davies, Chairman of the BBC (06 07 03)

Letter from Stephen Whittle Controller, Editorial Policy , BBC to Ben Brads haw
MP (03 07 03)

Letter from Richard Sambrook Director BBC News, to Ben Bradshaw MP (2s os 03)

Letter from Andrew Glllloan 7odav orooramme Defence and Dlolomatic

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Correspondent, t o Phil Woolas, Deoutv Leader of the House of Commons
(zR os 03)

http ://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/07july/20/gilligan-20july .: 23/07/2003