Defence ministry accused of playing ‘Russian roulette’ with Kelly

THE British Ministry of Defence was yesterday accused of playing a lethal game of “Russian roulette” with Government weapons expert David Kelly.

Counsel for the Kelly family described his treatment by the ministry as “cynical and irresponsible”.

The Hutton inquiry heard that Dr Kelly was never consulted about the so-called “naming strategy” which led to his identity being confirmed to journalists.

It was told that the plan had been approved by the most senior civil servant in the ministry, permanent secretary Kevin Tebbit. The inquiry also heard that Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon may have been kept informed of the tactics.

The inquiry was set up to investigate how Dr Kelly apparently took his own life after being identified as the source of a BBC story claiming the Government “sexed up” its Iraq weapons dossier to strengthen the case for war.

Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Martin Howard said the plan to confirm Dr Kelly’s name had been approved at a meeting in Mr Tebbit’s office on July 8. Pam Teare, the ministry’s director of news, was also present while Mr Hoon’s private secretary, Peter Watkins, appeared “from time to time”. “It could be he was briefing Mr Hoon,” Mr Howard said.

The meeting followed the decision to issue a statement disclosing that Dr Kelly had come forward to say he had an unauthorised meeting with BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan without actually naming him.

Mr Howard said he and Ms Teare drew up a “question and answer” briefing for ministry press officers, saying they should confirm his identity to any journalist who came up with the right name.

Kelly family counsel, Jeremy Gompertz QC, said that information had enabled journalists to work out who he was. “The procedure adopted, Mr Howard, I suggest, amounted to a parlour game for journalists; would you agree?” Mr Gompertz said.

Mr Howard replied no. Mr Gompertz said: “Or was it more like a game of Russian roulette?”

Mr Howard: “No, it was not that either.”

Mr Gompertz: “I suggest to you that the strategy that was adopted with regard to disclosing Dr Kelly’s identity was both cynical and irresponsible. What do you say?”

Mr Howard: “I would disagree with that completely.”