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21/07/2003
Law Lord will decide scope of Kelly inquiry
The top judge who is to head up the inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly has said that he shall have sole responsibility in deciding the scope of his inquiry.
Lord Hutton, a Law Lord since 1997, has been appointed by the government to carry out an independent inquiry into the death. He was formerly Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1988 to 1997.
In a statement issued today, Lord Hutton said: "The government has invited me to conduct an investigation into the tragic death of Dr David Kelly, which has brought such great sorrow to his wife and children.
"My terms of reference are these: 'Urgently to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly'.
"The government has further stated that it will provide me with the fullest cooperation and that it expects all other authorities and parties to do the same.
"I make it clear that it will be for me to decide as I think right within my terms of reference the matters which will be the subject of my investigation."
Dr David Kelly (59), a government expert in WMDs disappeared from his Faringdon home in Oxfordshire on Thursday afternoon. His body was later found in woodlands.
Police said that he had died from blood loss resulting from a knife wound to his wrist - he had also swallowed a number of painkillers.
After the body was formally identified, the BBC confirmed that Dr Kelly was the source for Andrew Gilligan's 'Today' story which claimed that the government - and chiefly Tony Blair's communications director Alistair Campbell - had "sexed up" an intelligence dossier on Iraq's weapons capability.
Yesterday, the BBC said it stood by the report and the broadcaster's head of news Richard Sambrook said in a statement that the BBC believed it had "accurately interpreted and reported the factual information" obtained from Dr Kelly during interviews.
The corporation also maintained that it was right to run the story in the way that it did.
Lord Hutton has said that the inquiry will be largely held in public and it is expected to conclude by September.
In a statement the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said that the death of Dr Kelly had been "shocking and tragic".
Mr Hoon said that the government will provide Lord Hutton with the "fullest cooperation" and that it expected all other authorities and parties to do the same.
(GMcG)
Lord Hutton, a Law Lord since 1997, has been appointed by the government to carry out an independent inquiry into the death. He was formerly Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1988 to 1997.
In a statement issued today, Lord Hutton said: "The government has invited me to conduct an investigation into the tragic death of Dr David Kelly, which has brought such great sorrow to his wife and children.
"My terms of reference are these: 'Urgently to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly'.
"The government has further stated that it will provide me with the fullest cooperation and that it expects all other authorities and parties to do the same.
"I make it clear that it will be for me to decide as I think right within my terms of reference the matters which will be the subject of my investigation."
Dr David Kelly (59), a government expert in WMDs disappeared from his Faringdon home in Oxfordshire on Thursday afternoon. His body was later found in woodlands.
Police said that he had died from blood loss resulting from a knife wound to his wrist - he had also swallowed a number of painkillers.
After the body was formally identified, the BBC confirmed that Dr Kelly was the source for Andrew Gilligan's 'Today' story which claimed that the government - and chiefly Tony Blair's communications director Alistair Campbell - had "sexed up" an intelligence dossier on Iraq's weapons capability.
Yesterday, the BBC said it stood by the report and the broadcaster's head of news Richard Sambrook said in a statement that the BBC believed it had "accurately interpreted and reported the factual information" obtained from Dr Kelly during interviews.
The corporation also maintained that it was right to run the story in the way that it did.
Lord Hutton has said that the inquiry will be largely held in public and it is expected to conclude by September.
In a statement the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said that the death of Dr Kelly had been "shocking and tragic".
Mr Hoon said that the government will provide Lord Hutton with the "fullest cooperation" and that it expected all other authorities and parties to do the same.
(GMcG)
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The judge heading up the inquiry into the death of MoD weapons expert Dr David Kelly opened proceedings today by re-stating his independence – and then called the Prime Minister to give evidence before him.
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The judge heading up the inquiry into the death of MoD weapons expert Dr David Kelly opened proceedings today by re-stating his independence – and then called the Prime Minister to give evidence before him.
28 July 2003
Hutton inquiry to go ahead on August 1
The inquiry into the death of MoD weapons expert Dr David Kelly is set to go ahead on August 1. The man leading the inquiry, Lord Hutton, met with Dr Kelly's widow at her home on Saturday morning to agree the scheduling. Lord Hutton said that he had originally intended not to begin proceedings until after Dr Kelly's funeral.
Hutton inquiry to go ahead on August 1
The inquiry into the death of MoD weapons expert Dr David Kelly is set to go ahead on August 1. The man leading the inquiry, Lord Hutton, met with Dr Kelly's widow at her home on Saturday morning to agree the scheduling. Lord Hutton said that he had originally intended not to begin proceedings until after Dr Kelly's funeral.
28 January 2004
Dr Kelly committed suicide over fear of public disgrace: Hutton
Dr David Kelly took his own life over fears of losing his job and of being publicly disgraced, the Hutton inquiry was told. According to today's report, a further contributory factor in the scientist's death was the fear that his life's work had been "totally undermined" and that he did not share his problems and feelings with other people.
Dr Kelly committed suicide over fear of public disgrace: Hutton
Dr David Kelly took his own life over fears of losing his job and of being publicly disgraced, the Hutton inquiry was told. According to today's report, a further contributory factor in the scientist's death was the fear that his life's work had been "totally undermined" and that he did not share his problems and feelings with other people.
21 October 2005
Britain celebrates Trafalgar bicentenary
Britain is marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar with a series of events across the country. More than 6,000 events are planned to take place throughout the UK over the weekend, to mark the Royal Navy victory over the combined Spanish and France fleets on October 21, 1805.
Britain celebrates Trafalgar bicentenary
Britain is marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar with a series of events across the country. More than 6,000 events are planned to take place throughout the UK over the weekend, to mark the Royal Navy victory over the combined Spanish and France fleets on October 21, 1805.
28 January 2004
Blair escapes censure in Hutton Report
The government's conduct in compiling its September dossier and its actions leading up to and following the death of Dr David Kelly were largely appropriate and proper, according to the Hutton Report.
Blair escapes censure in Hutton Report
The government's conduct in compiling its September dossier and its actions leading up to and following the death of Dr David Kelly were largely appropriate and proper, according to the Hutton Report.
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