Publisher says author has raised credibility issues

THE publisher of a book on cocaine use that has provoked a storm of controversy yesterday admitted her claim she recorded an interview with a cocaine-snorting minister raised serious issues about her credibility.

Gill & Macmillan said it only became aware on Monday that Justine Delaney Wilson actually recorded the alleged interview with the minister rather than taking contemporaneous notes.

“On the credibility issue the author has placed herself in a completely unsatisfactory position,” the publisher said in a 600-word statement. However, Gill & Macmillan refused to withdraw the book from sale, saying it was still satisfied about its authenticity — including Ms Delaney Wilson’s widely doubted contention that a minister habitually used cocaine.